Unite union

[Acorn1]

After watching a few videos on all the protests, there is always someone with a unite workers rights placard or a people with Unite tabards on shepherding the protesters, be it Palestine, Trans/ gay rights, stop racism antifa etc.

Someone is funding these people, costing the Govt millions in policing and lost revenue.

Are they actually a subversive political movement masquerading as a Union for the working man?

Or do I need to put my tin foil hat back on?

Edited by Acorn1 on Wednesday 12th November 20:50

[John D.]

Not sure.

I know they're not very good at property development:

Serious Fraud Office probe £112m Unite union hotel - BBC News https://share.google/VKOlEzuxGeezESZ6K

[Randy Winkman]

What does the OP mean by "funding these people"? Who is being funded?

[hidetheelephants]

Oh no! People you disagree with are protesting! The temerity.

[valiant]

They have something like 1.2m members paying subs every month.

That’s the main source of funding.

[Acorn1]

hidetheelephants said:

Oh no! People you disagree with are protesting! The temerity.

No, I d like to know what connection there is to what apparently has become a uniprotest every Saturday incorporating all the sad sacks and Unite?

Why are they involved?

Edited by Acorn1 on Wednesday 12th November 22:22

[DeadShed]

Because unions have always been involved in social justice of all types. This isn’t some kind of conspiracy.

[pheonix478]

valiant said:

They have something like 1.2m members paying subs every month.

That s the main source of funding.

They get in the region of 100m from various public sector organisations too in the form of grants and 'free' staff costs to conduct union business (paid by the tax payer.)

[LittleBobbyTables]

Acorn1 said:

After watching a few videos on all the protests, there is always someone with a unite workers rights placard or a people with Unite tabards on shepherding the protesters, be it Palestine, Trans/ gay rights, stop racism antifa etc.

Someone is funding these people, costing the Govt millions in policing and lost revenue.

Are they actually a subversive political movement masquerading as a Union for the working man?

Or do I need to put my tin foil hat back on?

Edited by Acorn1 on Wednesday 12th November 20:50

You seem to be comparing them to your assumption of what they should do, a read of their website would perhaps shine a light on why they are involved in the activities which surprise you.

As had been said, they also love a bit of property development

[LittleBobbyTables]

pheonix478 said:

valiant said:

They have something like 1.2m members paying subs every month.

That s the main source of funding.

They get in the region of 100m from various public sector organisations too in the form of grants and 'free' staff costs to conduct union business (paid by the tax payer.)

Yup, a lot of money sloshing around there!

[hidetheelephants]

LittleBobbyTables said:

As had been said, they also love a bit of property development

The hotel thing is bizarre, if there isn't criminality there they've missed a trick as someone has definitely taken the members for a ride.

[LittleBobbyTables]

hidetheelephants said:

LittleBobbyTables said:

As had been said, they also love a bit of property development

The hotel thing is bizarre, if there isn't criminality there they've missed a trick as someone has definitely taken the members for a ride.

I don’t know many details, I would assume it’s a bunch of people mainly there though connections and popularity rather than ability+ a big pile of cash = perfect opportunity to either take advantage or be taken advantage of.

Could be completely wrong.

[Ian Geary]

pheonix478 said:

They get in the region of 100m from various public sector organisations too in the form of grants and 'free' staff costs to conduct union business (paid by the tax payer.)

Point of order

Union facility time (to enable staff to carry out union work) is a cost to both public and private sectors.

So whilst "the taxpayer" is funding a smallish amount (something like 1 fte or £50k per 1,000 employees) it will also be charged to the consumers of private goods (who are basically the same people of course).

Not sure about grants - my organisation ( a council in London) doesn't give the unions any grants.

But it's a bit of a canard to liken their funding to carry out union duties (ie protecting their members' employment rights) with funding of their other activities like championing social values and opposing racism in our society.


Ymmv.

As you were, Comrades.

[Timothy Bucktu]

They are just your common-or-garden Lefties. Any excuse to wave around a pre-printed & group sanctioned placard in the high street...they love it.
They and their type an absolute goldmine for 'citizen journalist' YouTubers though. Charlie Veitch, DJE, Bob, AB...they're loving it.

[Acorn1]

I hope all the union members know what their subs are being spunked on and how much this costs the Country?

They can't all be mental.

[Ganglandboss]

Acorn1 said:

I hope all the union members know what their subs are being spunked on and how much this costs the Country?

They can't all be mental.

I was a member of one of the unions that now forms Unite; I was in AEEU, which merged with MSF to become Amicus. At the time I worked in a university estates department, and almost everybody was a union member. I left when I left the university's employment (after which Amicus and T&GWU merged to become Unite).

Most of the members could not give a fk about the politics (I would say from the mess room conversations, most would share the views of Reform); all they want is somebody to negotiate the annual pay rise, and fight their corner if they ever face a disciplinary.

Hardly anybody votes in any leadership elections. They tut and moan about the union all the time, but they never try to change anything, and keep paying their subs.

[NuckyThompson]

Acorn1 said:

I hope all the union members know what their subs are being spunked on and how much this costs the Country?

They can't all be mental.

About 5p a month per member goes to the Labour Party no you can opt out of this. I wouldn’t be surprised if unite pulls support from Labour once the budget is announced too

[Acorn1]

NuckyThompson said:

Acorn1 said:

I hope all the union members know what their subs are being spunked on and how much this costs the Country?

They can't all be mental.

About 5p a month per member goes to the Labour Party no you can opt out of this. I wouldn t be surprised if unite pulls support from Labour once the budget is announced too

Which nicely brings me back to my point, are they a subversive political movement or just con men preying on their members and the disaffected under a disguise?

Or are they true fighters for the Communist sorry, Socialist workers rights?

[Timothy Bucktu]

Acorn1 said:

I hope all the union members know what their subs are being spunked on and how much this costs the Country?

They can't all be mental.

Let me consider that question for a minute
Yes, yes they can.

[NuckyThompson]

Acorn1 said:

Which nicely brings me back to my point, are they a subversive political movement or just con men preying on their members and the disaffected under a disguise?

Or are they true fighters for the Communist sorry, Socialist workers rights?

They for the most part get their members better pay and conditions which is their purpose.

We had plenty of skilled workers in our membership and I can guarantee they would have had smaller pay rises, less leave and far worse safety condition were it not for a union