Membership
Contact the Membership Secretary
About UNISON
UNISON members are people working in the public services, for private contractors providing public services and the essential utilities. They include manual and white collar staff working full or part time in local authorities, the NHS, the Police service, colleges and schools, the electricity, gas and water industries, transport and the voluntary sector.
Most people join a union because they want protection at work - help with pay and conditions of service, legal or health and safety advice or representation in case things go wrong at work. That's what we're here for. UNISON negotiates on pay and working conditions at every level - local, regional and national. But we also do a lot more. Being a UNISON member gives you a range of benefits and unbeatable deals.
Every member of UNISON belongs to a local branch, which is made up of people working for the same employer.
Local stewards are there to represent you at work and help find the answers to your problems. They are volunteers and play a vital role in recruiting new members and organising your branch. If you have a problem, talk to your local steward. If they can't handle the problem on their own, they can talk to other branch officers or full - time union experts on your behalf.
Anyone can face problems at work sometimes but if you are a member of UNISON, you don't have to face them alone. We can provide advice or representation on things like pay, rotas, leave and sickness procedures. We are also there to help you make sure your workplace is healthy and safe, support you in case of disciplinary action, dismissals or redundancy.
10 good reasons to join UNISON
1. You earn more in a unionised workplace.
Average earnings are around 8% higher in unionised workplaces.
2. You get more annual leave in a unionised workplace.
The average trade union member in the UK gets 29 days annual leave a year, compared with 23 days for non-unionised workers.
3. You're less likely to be injured at work.
All employers have a legal duty to provide a safe workplace and safe equipment and working methods, but unionised workplaces have health and safety officers to make sure the employer sticks to their legal obligations.
4. If you get injured at work, you'll get better compensation.
Unions won over £321 million in legal compensation for people who were injured or became ill at work in 2000.
5. You get more maternity leave or parental leave.
Unionised workplaces are 12% more likely to have parental policies in place, which are more generous than the statutory minimum.
6. You get more and better training.
Workers in unionised workplaces are more likely to receive job-related training. Since 1994 UNISON has won agreements with employers to pay for courses and provide paid time off for employees to attend them.
7. You're more likely to get equal pay for work of equal value.
Workplaces with union recognition are 20% more likely to have an equal opportunities policy in place. Despite equal pay legislation, women currently earn only 83p for every £1 earned by a man.
8. You're less likely to be sacked.
Trade union members are only half as likely to be sacked as non-members.
9. You're less likely to be discriminated against in terms of age, disability, race or sex.
Black and Asian trade unionists earn 32% more than their non-unionised colleagues. Trade unions have campaigned for tougher anti-discrimination laws, which are coming into effect in 2003, making it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief, marital or family status, sexual orientation or gender reassignment.
10. You will be part of an international network to share good practice with trade unionists across the world, and provide mutual support where workers are facing exploitation or intimidation for union activity.
source information published by
UNISON CU2002/13014/2130/20000/UNP No:6490