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

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• union
• labor
• trade union
• workplace
• job
• work

[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

[NorthernLights1953]

I was in a union once and , it was very clan,ish if you did not suck up to the higher up,s then you were not going to work much, the way I have seen it , most union,s and goverment,s are all corrupt , and it,s all about who you know, I want to do my best all the time and get paid for doing so, and help other,s along the way, give me some feed back . Gary B.

[johninnit]

Hi Gary. Sorry to hear about that - this must have been some time ago no, or somewhere I'm not at all familar with? In the UK unions haven't stopped anyone working or getting on at work since the 70's, and that kind of thing was far from universal then. I've seen bad decisions made in unions occasionally, but never had any experience of corruption. Actually, wanting to do your "best all the time and get paid for doing so, and help other's along the way" sounds pretty much like a union charter.

[nostriluu]

I accidentally voted you down and now have to make up for it. Unions serve many important purposes but pretending they are a utopia is another mistake. Pretending everyone is going to be motivated and a team player just because they're guaranteed a job is dreaming, presented with an overdone soundtrack. I think the real answer involves a much more fundamental look at people's contributions.

[johninnit]

@nostriluu Thanks for that. You're absolutely right of course. This is something of a worst case to best case - just joining a union certainly isn't going to make everything change. However, it is often a neccessary first step.

Unions are about more than job guarantees (a bad job still sucks even if it's guaranteed!). They're about people being able to have a voice at work, to feel justified pride in the job they do, and to earn a fair degree of respect for it.

Best wishes, John

[pennybes]

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!

[kajjohansson]

Great, great video! So simple and so effective! The idea of organizing is so great. Beautiful!

[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

[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?

[DelphineduToit]

It is a good video but it pains me that so much paper is being used. NOT an environmentally conscious production. Would like to see this creativity with a 'green' attitude.

[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.

[primal9958]

Absolutely superb idea! Well done to whoever made this. Truly inspirational.

[Andrey266]

waste of paper ;)

[Sosialistisk]

wow!