Why join UNISON?

1. What have unions ever done for us?
The Weekend
Sick Pay
Protectionfrom Discrimination
Better Terms and Conditions
Health and Safety Protection

2. UNION MYTH BUSTERs
MYTH: If you strike you don’t get paid.
FACT: We have strike fund to help those low paid workers who
may get into difficulty when we take long term action.
MYTH: We can go on strike “at the drop of a hat”.
FACT: The UK has one of the most restrictive trade union laws
in Europe, and this is likely to get worse with the new
legislation the government is threatening to put through
around strike ballots. At present we have to give at least 7
days notice to our employer for a strike to be legal.
MYTH: Unions are destroying the economy.
FACT: There is a strong link between strong trade unions, low
inequality and strong collective bargaining agreements that
reduce the gender pay gap. Union representatives actually
SAVE employers money.

3. UNION MYTH BUSTERs
MYTH: Unions just organise strikes.
FACT: We don’t just organise strikes – we provide learning
for our representatives and members, support social
injustices and bargain for better policies and procedures
on your behalf.
Check out Unison’s website (www.unison.org.uk) for more information.
MYTH: Unions are subsidised by the Government.
FACT: We are not subsidised by the government. We do
have paid facility time for our representatives but we also
save employers money. Research by the Labour party
showed that when you include the private sector, facility
time costs £431m annually. But it also showed that
facility time saved anything from £476m to £1.1bn. (Quote
from Ellie Mae O’Hagan, The Guardian, 13.11.14)

4. So what have UNIONS done for us?
Our aim is to protect working class people!
Here are some examples of what unions have done for us…
 Paid Holidays
 Paid Sick Leave
 Eight Hour Days
 Ended Child Labour
 Fought for Equal Pay
 Better Health and Safety Regulations
 Fought Workplace Discrimination
 Women’s Rights

5. So Why Join a Union?
What if you are pushed too hard at work? Or you are struggling with a
disability and your manager is being inflexible? Or maybe you don’t have the
right skills to do your job?…
What do you do?
“The trade union movement represents the organised economic
power of the workers... It is in reality the most potent and the
most direct social insurance the workers can establish.”
Samuel Gompers, Union Leader (1850 – 1924)

6. You could keep quiet and put up with it.
This may sound like the easiest option, but it could lead to stress as the
situation continues or gets worse and could cause you to go off sick;
with the ultimate worse case scenario being that you lose your job.
You could go to your manager and complain.
This may work but it could also change little or worse make you look
like a trouble maker.
Or.. You could get all your colleagues together in
order to gain more credibility and be more
protected, by submitting a group grievance with
the help of the union.
This action would be taken more seriously and is the basis of a Union
Movement and what it is all about.

7. So Why is it in Your best interest to
be in a union?
In a unionised workplace, You are:
 More likely to earn more year on year
 More likely get equal pay
 Entitled to more holiday leave
 Provided with better and more frequent
training
 Entitled to more maternity & paternity leave
 Less likely to be injured at work, but if you
are you will receive better compensation.
 Less likely to be discriminated against
 Helping to keep public services public
 Less likely to be dismissed from your job

8. UNISON at NUH
We are the biggest union at NUH with nearly a third of
employees being UNISON members.
We have 5 seats on Staff Partnership group which
negotiates, on your behalf, with Trust Directors
and the Chief Executive.
We have approximately 30 representatives at both sites
supporting all NUH Staff, as well as staff working for private
providers that support NUH.
All of our representatives are volunteers, are elected into post
and are committed to improving the workplace.

9. A Word From Our Members
“I used to work in the private sector and got my
days changed with no notice – I had no where
to go as there was no union to speak on my
behalf, this made me want to join Unison as
soon as I changed jobs”
“I joined Unison because at a time when living
standards are low and the government wants
to cut vital services, we need to stand together
and fight for what is right and just.”

10. “I became a UNISON rep to fight the many threatened
redundancies during the merger of City Hospital and
QMC. Was jumping up and down outside QMC main entrance
with a banner and someone said – you ought to be a rep”
“I joined Unison during the “Agenda for Change” process. I
found the Union invaluable in explaining what the agenda for
change process meant for employees like me and since then it
has continued to keep me informed about other negotiations /
changes, that are going on within the trust that could affect me.
It is also reassuring to know that there is advice and support out
there (should I need it) for the “little person” like me not fluent
in HR/ management jargon, who is fighting our corner to try
and ensure that all employees enjoy a pleasant, productive,
working life.”
A Word From Our Members

11. “I was worried about bullying and accusations
made against me at work. I knew that unions
were in place to protect staff from unfair
treatment and wanted to get some 'back up' in
case I did have to go to a meeting with
management. I chose UNISON because they
were the biggest union at my workplace and I
saw a lot of them on stalls and walkabouts.”
A Word From Our Members

12. JOIN US TODAY!
 Apply Online
www.joinunison.org
 Call Us
0115 919 4428
 Recruitment and Communications Officer
075 35 81 5867
 Our NUH&AS Website
http://www.unison-nuh.org.uk/