Joining a union

[theshrew]

It looking more and more like we might be made redundant. A few blokes have joined a union over the last few months.

I presume if your gonna go your going anyway. So what advantage if any would I have if I also joined ? Would it just be a case of them checking everything was done correctly or more to it than that ?

[Cyberprog]

I think (but a quick google couldn't suggest anything concrete) that a certain percentage of people need to be a member of the same union before they get proper recognition within a workplace. But not 100% on that one... perhaps others with more info will enlighten us

[theshrew]

Yes I think they do.

I'm not sure how this will work though in our case. The company recently joined with another as far as I'm aware the other company has lots of workers in the union but where I work we don't. I not sure if we would now come under the same banner even though we are still sort of separate at the moment

[Pit Pony]

It ain't going to stop the inevitable, but it might mean that you have someone to check it's all "fair" and "legal".

Most big companies actually employ specialists who make sure there is no comeback from appeals.

Having been in a union both times I was made redundant, I can't really say it helped.

[theshrew]

Thought as much. Thanks for the advice.

[mph1977]

theshrew said:

Yes I think they do.

I'm not sure how this will work though in our case. The company recently joined with another as far as I'm aware the other company has lots of workers in the union but where I work we don't. I not sure if we would now come under the same banner even though we are still sort of separate at the moment

It may be the case that union is recognised by the taking over company on that basis

Regardless of recognition for collective representation membership of a professional association or union can be worth it's weight in gold when push comes to shove and you need individual representation from a a properly trained and accredited union rep / Full time officer and/or access to a specialist legal advice ...

[edc]

theshrew said:

It looking more and more like we might be made redundant. A few blokes have joined a union over the last few months.

I presume if your gonna go your going anyway. So what advantage if any would I have if I also joined ? Would it just be a case of them checking everything was done correctly or more to it than that ?

Good luck signing up now and getting a timely response to questions you want to bounce. I have come up against a number of Unite officers in the past. If you think they are going to 'beat up' the employer on your behalf you are sorely mistaken. In all my disciplinary or termination dealings they have actually reasoned with the employee that we as the employer are doing the right thing.

[Engineer1]

theshrew said:

Thought as much. Thanks for the advice.

Unless the site fks up then maybe not a lot I am in the Redundancy limbo at the moment I know it is going to happen but I have yet to hear back on the last internal role before it does. In my case the union are doing a good job and will hopefully be able to push for a better than bare legal minimum payout etc.
I suppose it also depends on the reason for the redundancies, if teh company is doing it for finacial reasons then the union will struggle to improve the payout.