Opting In
The biggest reason that people give for not joining a trade union is that no one ever asked them. People who are getting their first jobs now weren't alive during the Miners' strike, let alone the Winter of Discontent, and most of them are working in places where no one will ask them to join a trade union. For most people, the idea of trade unions as being a powerful force capable of bringing down governments is a weird and fantastical one, for good and bad.
Working in a unionised workplace gives people protection against being victimised, better working conditions and pay and better opportunities for training, all things which are priorities for workers.
One quite simple reform which would help unions recruit would be to make trade union membership 'opt out', rather than 'opt in'. When people start at a new job, they would automatically be signed up to the union recognised by their employer, and if they don't want to be a member, then they have to fill in a form to opt out of membership.
Some people will have an ideological objection to being in a union, and that's fine (they might, of course, change their mind when they see the benefits of working in a unionised workplace), but most people would at least give it a go, or at least get to hear the arguments in favour of being in a union. More enlightened employers would get the benefits of a more organised workforce, while the rip-off ones would face more effective scrutiny and challenge. I know the Tories wouldn't like it, but, hey, we won the election and they didn't.
More info about joining a union here
posted by donpaskini @ 11:47 pm
2 Comments
2 Comments:
Agreed. This is a problem I definitely faced. For quite some time no one asked me to join a union, even mates who worked for a union have done little to try to recruit me or any of their other mates. I didn't seek one out forr some time, mainly because I didn't know enough about them - I think people would be more likely to stay in a union if they were already signed up while finding out about its functions, than joining one while finding out about them (e.g. I have little idea about which union might be best for me).
The only issue is with the idea of an employer-recognised union - what about the people working for an employer who doesn't recognise any unions? Mind you, its better getting some people involved than none, and the increased visibility of unions brought about by your suggested measure would no doubt encourage those in the aforementioned environments to join a union themselves and unionise their workplace in the process.
btw, I'm joining one now, largely because a recently acquired friend works for one and encouraged me to join, but also due to possessing more knowledge about their function.
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