Union

[sledgehammer]

Just thinking, anyone in unite? I've never really thought of joining a union and I suppose this is the one for our field. Is it any good? Is it at all worth it?

 

[Plonker 3]

Depends what you want from them?

Are you employed or self employed?

would your employer recognise them to talk to them about wages etc, do you work with a group of people who would also be interested in joining?

I used to be in UCATT when in the prison service, they were not too bad but the main reason I joined was due to the nature of the accusations that could be made against me.

 

[driverman]

I was in Unite.I was made redundant along with many others.......Unite wouldn't return my calls even for advice info etc. Other employees that were in other Unions had help / advice which I used. I stopped my contributions .....guess what? They contracted me then!

 

[Pete999]

Try Prospect, [email protected]

 

[driverman]

Try Prospect, [email protected]

Actually, it was Prospect members that had a far better service then me.

 

[oldtimer]

I was in Unite.I was made redundant along with many others.......Unite wouldn't return my calls even for advice info etc. Other employees that were in other Unions had help / advice which I used. I stopped my contributions .....guess what? They contracted me then!

This happened to me 28 years ago when I got paid off and went to EETPU at the start of February and asked for their help as my daughter was due to be born any day they told me we only help out if 20 or more employees so I said well my dues are paid up until the end of the year and all I ge is you trying to sell me insurance so I ripped up my card in front of them and funny enough I got a phone call a year later asking what the problem was

 

[Pete999]

I'm a Rep for Prospect so if you need any info please let me know
Pete999

 

[Knobhead]

I resigned as convenor with the EETPU when the fitters were amalgamated in to it. Looking at it now, it only seems interested in selling insurance.

A waste of time!

 

[oldtimer]

Yep agree Tony Unions bare no reflection of what they used to be as even in the 80s I paid them £75 a year so they could send me junk mail. Plus when our communist leader Frank Chapple took a peerage and installed his 2 sons in the EETPU I knew I made the right decision.

They bankrolled Blair into power and sat on their hands we he ignored his promises to get us into the European Employment Act that Thatcher would not sign up to. So 60 years ago we were a low paid economy with a good social housing stock today we are a low paid economy trying to keep a roof over our heads mmm isnt progress great

 

[appspark]

I joined unite when i started my apprenticeship, my understanding was basically its better to be in a crap union than none at all so i'm looking for a good union that will help when needed. i still have 3 years left in my apprenticeship and i am guaranteed to complete it if my company goes under(busy as hell right now though). As i understand it only unite can bargain for pay rises so what can other unions such as prospect do to help?
thanks, just want to make sure i'm not missing out.

 

[Hants-Spark]

I'm a Rep for Prospect so if you need any info please let me know
Pete999

Hi Pete, on the sites I've been on Prospect only represented the management side of the work-force, not sure if this is the case in general though.

 

[Pete999]

Prospect is a union for specialist, if a sparky aint a specialist then I don't know who is, I'm a sparky for HMG and I'm in Prospect I'm sure if enough of you were to join, Prospect would accommodate, why not call and find out
Pete999

 

[Hants-Spark]

Prospect is a union for specialist, if a sparky aint a specialist then I don't know who is, I'm a sparky for HMG and I'm in Prospect I'm sure if enough of you were to join, Prospect would accommodate, why not call and find out
Pete999

It may just be the site and how they operate, all trade staff etc are with Unite and all Management including Engineers etc are with Prospect.

 

[oldtimer]

To me unions have lost their way and have been hijacked by some self interested individuals one example was the Falkirk by election where unite did not paint themselves in glory plus its not hard to sort out ie get some customer focus and look after them instead of trying to fool them that you are fighting their corner whilst picking up their £6-£10 a month subs and doing deals behind their back with the its for the common good excuse whilst getting their kids installed as politicians PA's

 

[sledgehammer]

Good to hear some debate and someone rightly or wrongly bringing an alternative. However, has anyone here needed unite or prospect and have they helped them out in any of the ways they sell it to you?