This may start a few fires and some interesting comments.
Is it a good idea to join a union?
Ive served 11 years in the Army and as most know we don’t have (aren’t allowed) unions, so as a newbie to the industry and the opportunity to join a union, is it a good idea even for someone who is (still) only working with agencies and what are the benefits?
Its just that after a long period of having no one to fight my corner for me and stand up for my rights (because believe me the tubes would always be on strike if they were manged by the MOD!! ) it would be a good piece of mind for myself to know i have at least some form of backing.
Also what Unions are there available for drivers?
I look forward to see what sort of comments this brings
I joined a union when i first started on haulage after the army, transport and general for 5yrs, but i found them too bolshie and following an agenda that had nothing to do with the welfare and benefits of drivers. I moved to URTU about 1993, they’ve fought my corner several times, got compo from dodgy employers, and from injury claims whilst at work. good legal advice and access to real lawyers, pay some fines and bit of sickness benefit. i think with the times we’ve got ahead i’d rather be in a union than not . For the price of 40cigs a month not a lot to pay out for the benefits
I can see the similarities here, you fight for Queen and Country, and do everything you are asked without question.
Then you leave the relative comforts of a service life and join a union, and you do everything you are asked without question. The union tell you which way to vote in a democratic society that you fought for
I’ve been considering this recently as it happens, are unions much use when it comes to agencies though? Agency drivers (myself included) always seem a bit short on rights.
As there isn’t many rights for agency drivers anyway, I can’t see what grounds the unions would possibly have to stand up for us. What we need is a proper union for drivers only, and one that will specialise in agency workers as well.
Personally, I’d rather spend my money on a private health insurance though.
scotsdragoon:
I joined a union when i first started on haulage after the army, transport and general for 5yrs, but i found them too bolshie and following an agenda that had nothing to do with the welfare and benefits of drivers. I moved to URTU about 1993, they’ve fought my corner several times, got compo from dodgy employers, and from injury claims whilst at work. good legal advice and access to real lawyers, pay some fines and bit of sickness benefit. i think with the times we’ve got ahead i’d rather be in a union than not . For the price of 40cigs a month not a lot to pay out for the benefits
In 32 years in the Haulage industry, never had one of these highlighted ones.
Never had Dodgy employers, because if they where dodgy I would work that out very quickly and made my exit even quicker
Never needed any Legal advice or lawyers regarding employment.
The Unions in Holland while I never been a member has cost me Thousands of pounds because the Unions thought in the 90’s it would be a good idea to cap the maximum hours for drivers at 57.5hrs per week and any more hours would be in lieu at 100% pay, this would create more jobs.
Did it ■■■■, the employers wet theirselves laughing got us working the same hours for less money, the only ones who won where the employers, and we where snookerd…thanks Unions
And don’t forget the Labour party is build from Union support and members, and yes they did a lot of good for us…not
I was in the Union while working in a Workshop and was happy with it.
i also was here for some Time in,but found it useless.
Every few Weeks arrives a letter telling you what to join or buy and when you need anything is no help in seight.
Feighted the fine at council london and won.union i contacted earlier for help mentioned just …
(I didn’t find out yet)
So i left it,as it gets quit costly when you just do 3 day a Week after Xmas and Union not pointing that at DC’s Management out,to avoid working against there other Members
Look at the industries that were decimated by militant unions, mining, print, docks, car & truck building.
Better to discuss issues with management if possible.
Union leaders are only in it for their own self-interest, they are not bothered about the members who are simply there to finance their empire building.
waddy640:
Union leaders are only in it for their own self-interest, they are not bothered about the members who are simply there to finance their empire building.
Agreed. As an agency driver you’re on your own. The legal protection sounds good but personally if you think you need it I’m sure you could get it elsewhere cheaper than joining a union.
waddy640:
Union leaders are only in it for their own self-interest, they are not bothered about the members who are simply there to finance their empire building.
Agreed. As an agency driver you’re on your own. The legal protection sounds good but personally if you think you need it I’m sure you could get it elsewhere cheaper than joining a union.
Many house insurance policies cover legal protection and there are CAB’s and advice centres that can assist. The internet is also a good source of information.
There is no point in paying a union to get rid of your job.
To the OP, if you are working for an agency I can see no real point in joining a union as they are not able to negotiate any deals on your behalf.
I say this as a life long union member.
If you think that joining for the benefits of legal representation (not legal protection which is a different thing) etc is worthwhile , thats up to you.
Unite also, for example, offer an insurance against the loss of your HGV licence through sickness.
Not brilliant cover and lots of small print to check before you buy this though. Not sure if other unions offer this cover.
They also offer 24 hours/ 7 days legal advice over the phone with a solicitor, which I have had mixed results with.
In short, its a personal decision as to wether you think its worth having something to fall back on in times of trouble, or wether you feel confidant that you can deal with your problems through your own efforts etc.
I guess that the answers you get will come in two camps, from the anti union “don’t join at any cost” and from pro union “think about it first”
del949:
To the OP, if you are working for an agency I can see no real point in joining a union as they are not able to negotiate any deals on your behalf.
I say this as a life long union member.
If you think that joining for the benefits of legal representation (not legal protection which is a different thing) etc is worthwhile , thats up to you.
Unite also, for example, offer an insurance against the loss of your HGV licence through sickness.
Not brilliant cover and lots of small print to check before you buy this though. Not sure if other unions offer this cover.
They also offer 24 hours/ 7 days legal advice over the phone with a solicitor, which I have had mixed results with.
In short, its a personal decision as to wether you think its worth having something to fall back on in times of trouble, or wether you feel confidant that you can deal with your problems through your own efforts etc.
I guess that the answers you get will come in two camps, from the anti union “don’t join at any cost” and from pro union “think about it first”
As a union member totalling 35 years I speak from experience and in that time they took money from me but gave little in return.
del949:
A bit like any insurance policy… you pay and unless you need to claim you don’t see any return.
On more than one occasion I had to deal with issues myself because there was a conflict of interest. In the final case, if I had followed the advice given it would have lost me many thousands of pounds, because the union man didn’t want to upset the employer.
Union officials should put the members interests first not their own, or resign their post. They can’t run with the hare and the hounds.
I too am ex forces and since leaving have worked on Agency. In 2005 whilst working for Woolies in Rugby (and while being a member of a well known Union) an incident happened that had absolutely nothing to do with me what so ever but yet I still got the blame. The reason why I got banned off site was because the (full time Woolies) loader at Glasgow would have lost his job as opposed to the agency driver, (who picked up the loads fully tagged… 3 in all… and all confirmed with the paperwork) myself that was used as fodder. When I took it to the union I was laughed at. An agency driver asking for union help■■? You having a laugh was what I got told. I asked him what was the point of joining the union then? Answer I got was as an agency driver you get more money so take it on the chin and move on. Safe to say I wanted to put one on his chin and told him where to stick his union fees and so stopped them immediatley. So its like this. If your working as an agency driver dont bother. Also whatever company you work for and that company ask you to do them a “favour” turn it down. They will ask you for 110% commitment and good work but you will be the first person they ■■■■ on and that not just the client but thats the agency also.
Heres a funny one to end.
I never got on with the transport manager at RM Hub in Bristol. Just a clash of personalities, he was a w****** and I didnt like him… lol… After a long night due to a crash on the M5 south en route to Plymouth I was asked why I had got there 2 hours late as he had known via satellite that I had taken 30 mins snooze as I was hanging out me ■■■! I told him I was very tired and using my common sense pulled over for a power kip before I killed someone. I must stress the while he was trying bollock me outside the transport office he was actually putting up posters that stressed “DRIVERS, Tired■■?, PULL OVER!” The load will get there in one piece where as YOU MAY NOT!" I just pointed to the poster… Didnt help… was banned. As I say… Agency are expendable…
in my experience of unions there only good for helping with supplying lawyers which in my case wasent up too much, maybe if you join a company that has a strong group of men in the union then its worth it but if its not strong then no point at all waste of money you will only get pested to vote labour anyway.
if the unions were of any use we would"nt be spending ngts out in laybys doin a wee in plastic bottles.[i dispose of it with responsibility in drains and bleach the bottle every morn]
europleb:
if the unions were of any use we would"nt be spending ngts out in laybys doin a wee in plastic bottles.[i dispose of it with responsibility in drains and bleach the bottle every morn]
I can’t think of one unionised company that does this?
I work on the theory that I pay my monthly subs into a ‘guide dogs for the blind’ tin and it probably does more good than paying it to some two faced Union.
