Get yourself protected - TODAY!

Check out UNISON@LJMU www.unisonljmu.org.uk

16 Reasons

16 reasons people don’t join – how you can change their minds!

“It’s too expensive”

• Membership is calculated depending on your salary and can be as little as £1.30 per month.
• It’s value for money – a premium service that offers peace of mind and security.
• Membership costs do not automatically increase every year.
• Membership includes free legal advice.
• It’s not as expensive as losing your job and having no one to fight your corner.
• We offer concessions for students.

“No one asked me”

• I’m asking you now!
• Explain that a union is only as strong as its membership. The more members we have the stronger we become the more protection we can offer.

“I’ve had a bad experience with UNISON in the past”

• Listen to their negative experience. Steer the conversation towards a more positive outcome by asking how they would have dealt with the situation;
• Explain that times have changed and that by being part of a collective and getting involved, workplace situations can be resolved;
  
• Empathise, and offer support and confidentiality on any current issues.

“I can get all the benefits without joining”

• You may be able to get certain benefits, but you’re vulnerable without proper representation at disciplinary or grievance meetings.
  
• By being part of a democratic process such as consultation and negotiation, you have a voice.
  
• “Freeloading” can undermine the strength of the union, which can have a negative effect on deals and agreements.

“Aren’t you affiliated with the Labour Party?”

• All unions have a political fund. UNISON members can choose to pay a very small part of their subscriptions into the affiliated political fund (Labour Link), the general political fund, both, or neither.

“It could harm my career”

• Your employer doesn’t need to know you’re a member and you can pay by Direct Debit rather than through your salary.
• We have a lifelong learning agenda – learning new skills and ongoing training opportunities will help your career, not harm it.

“I’ve never needed to join”

• The chances are that the union has already fought and won collective issues for everybody, including you; 
• The workplace is always changing by being a member, you will be represented in situations such as disciplinaries or redundancies.

“I’m an agency worker – I can’t join”

• Agency workers can join and pay by Direct Debit.
• We represent thousands of agency workers. (See our Know Your Rights leaflet for agency workers).

“What’s the point? I can’t be bothered”

• Give examples of local and national successes, including workplace issues.
• Go “fishing” – show an interest, and ask key questions to prompt further discussion at a later date.
• UNISON’s role in the workplace, the membership benefits and why we need to increase membership numbers.

“I don’t want to go on strike”

• A strike is a last resort and only happens if members vote in favour of action.
• 90% of members have never been on strike because negotiation usually settles disputes.
• It’s sometimes necessary to go on strike as part of negotiations.

“Unions don’t have any power and don’t do anything”

• All workers’ rights have been won because of unions – paternity leave, local government pension scheme, national minimum wage, family-friendly policies etc.
• Unions are a good source of information.
• Look at our lifelong learning agenda.

“Why bother? It’s a waste of time”

• The union will always bother you if a problem affects you;
• If you get actively involved, you can help yourself and your colleagues – that’s a very good use of your time.

“My manager is a member”

• The union is inclusive, so every staff member can join. But they all have an equal voice within the union – the views of the person you’re recruiting will have just as much weight as their manager.

“There’s no personal benefit to me”

• Membership benefits include free legal representation, access to our welfare charity There for You and many training and development opportunities.
• There are also a host of exclusive member-only financial benefits and deals.

“I’m worried about management reprisals”

• There are trade union laws that protect union members.
• Talk out their issues and give examples of how these may be resolved.
• Workers are more likely to be targeted by management if they’re not a member.
• But at the same time, the employer doesn’t need to know that you’re a member.

“I’m too busy”

• Completing the membership form will take just five minutes!

Update your Membership Details

Make sure your details are accurate. You can update your contact details on My UNISON or contact our help team UNISONDirect.

0800 0857 857 https://unison.org.uk/my-unison/

Not a member join today http://join.unison.org.uk #joinUNISON

Why Join UNISON?

Join today at https://www.unisonljmu.org.uk/become-a-member

Phase 3 Better Pay Campaign

#HEPay2022 #UNISONljmu #BetterPayCampaign #Phase3 is underway.

Look out for the postcards being distributed across the university estate.

Read it, Sign it and Post it. Let the VC & Management know that you have had enough of below inflation pay.

We are asking ALL university staff to participate in this campaign.

Cost of Living Crisis

Join UNISON to take action!

The country is in the middle of a massive cost of living crisis and the government is failing to act – so join us in June to get the message across

Last week, inflation hit a 30-year high. It’s no longer just gas prices or petrol prices that struggling families are having to worry about. The cost of living crisis is affecting every part of our lives and pushing more and more people into extreme poverty and hardship.

UNISON is calling on members to join the union and the rest of the union movement on a national day of action at events across the UK on Saturday 18 June.

Organised by the TUC, the national demonstration will culminate with a rally in Parliament Square and is an opportunity to tell the Westminster government that it needs to do more to support people through this financial maelstrom. But there are events happening across the UK.

As UNISON’s assistant general secretary Jon Richards said just last week: “Prices are racing ahead, leaving wages far behind. Struggling households can no longer make their money stretch to cover the basics. Wrong-headed tax increases this month have added to the misery.

“Ministers with little idea of living on a tight budget must do more to support hard-up families. That means boosting benefits and public sector wages to levels that will help families keep the wolf from the door.

“Above-inflation pay rises won’t just ease financial hardship for employees in the NHS, schools, care, councils and police. Decent wage increases will protect essential services too, by ensuring experienced staff stay and new recruits keep joining.”

So join UNISON on Saturday 18 June, as the whole of the trade union movement takes to the streets to demand action on the cost of living, a new deal for working people and a pay rise for all workers.

The government needs to act now. Let’s come together on 18 June and make them listen.

UNISON@LJMU - JOIN TODAY!

Become a member of UNISON@LJMU and join today.

Check out our branch website for more information and benefits available to members. 

https://www.unisonljmu.org.uk/become-a-member

Getting more involved in your Branch

UNISON@LJMU Branch needs more members of the branch to get involved in being part of the committee.  This is so much more important during these new ways of working and being so distant from each other. It’s harder for the branch to find out what is happening in each department unless you tell us.

There are many roles within the branch that is available for members to participate in. All the roles can be shared so that you are not doing them on your own. Full training will be given by the UNISON North West Regional Education Team.

You read much more information on each of the roles in an E-News Branch Special - Issue 35. You can view or download it from the Branch E-News Archive HERE.