Just another cog in the machine

A union can make a big difference to people's perceptions of a job. For UK staff you can find out which unions may be relevant to your job at www.worksmart.org.uk/unionfinder

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  Nonprofits & Activism

[kishmish64]

ive been working for the same company in london, retail, for 26yrs and they still make excuses why they have not given me a contract, i get only 20 days holiday, only statutory sick pay, i fell off the ladder and had to go see doc and take time off, they didnt pay me, iin 30-15mins early most days yet they deducted pay for time off. they are rude, a lot of the time my wage slip i get is a week late , even four wks..so much more they do but times are hard and will i b able to get another job?

[johninnit]

Hi Kishmish64. Sorry I didn't see your comment when you added it ages ago. Well, it's tricky. There are basically 3 levels of usefulness to being in a union. The best is having formal recognition with your employer, which gives the union more rights to bargain on your behalf. If you don't have that, then you can make better use of the union in your workplace by working together with members of the same union (not an option if it's just you). All members get advice and legal help ...

[johninnit]

...tho you need to check out what the arrangements are if you're joining with a problem that you want help with immediately (a bit like buying insurance only after you've been burgled). Some unions will help with this, others not straight away, so you need to check it out before joining. I'd talk to USDAW or Unite, which both represent retail workers. Be upfront with them about your situation and see what they say they can offer you.

[johninnit]

... from the look of what you said, there are areas of your working conditions that don't meet legal minimums. You're right that jobs are in very short supply at the moment, so make sure to take advice so you know where you stand and can stay safe. Oh and you don't have to tell anyone you're a union member unless or until you want to - it's illegal to sack or penalise you for being a member (or not being one for that matter).

[johninnit]

This guide to enforcing your rights at work in the UK, whether it's via unions or other routes, might be useful for you - Can't add a link here, but search for "worksmart enforcing your rights"

[karensinex]

We have been using this video in trainings, but I will be doing a training next week, and will not have access to internet. Is there a place we can download it? I have a copy of the pages, but I want to keep it with you, give you the credit. Thanks for this, very moving

[johninnit]

Sure - I've had quite a few requests for this so made a download version that you've very welcome to use: johninnit.co.uk/justanothercog­.avi

[Penelope Beschizza]

I'm a Deaf Unionist and although there's a few things I would like to see improved, this video is accessible for us Deaf people with literacy skills. Makes a change, as most YouTube stuff does not have captions - inspiring work, well done, and getting to the point. Hope someone will do a similar one in Sign Language too.

Thanks!

[teamdovs]

This is an awesome idea, executed really well. Nicely done. Dovs

[Alan VenueVideo]

Please learn how to focus your camera manually. In fact if you knew how to film and edit video then you would not have wasted so much paper, resources I'm sure could have been used elsewhere. Or are they simply resources you don't have to pay for, the company does that! Or in the civil service the people pay for their own letters to come through telling them how they are not entitled to any financial help but that the council tax is going up because desk jockey civil servants want more money!!!

[notdrivingaminimetro]

we're all cogs in the machine regardless of where we work, got sent this at work today by a twat

[Tranceaddi24]

Killing trees



[kishmish64]

im the only one employed by them which union do i join and do i tell them before joining union or after? i feel really down and something needs to change as my complaints are not taken seriously and they are always negative towards me

[MrSupertwo]

What a great Video! It's so creative and HONEST! Having worked in the Private Sector for years without a Union, I can attest to the Cut-throat Mentality out there. Unions may have their problems, but, I think Organization of the Workers to have a better voice and say is one of the Greatest Ideas that has come in the last 100 Years.