Anyone knowledgeable about union membership?

bainbridge · 28 Jul 2015 at 21:46

I work in the insurance industry (call centre) and want to join a union (rumours of lots of impending changes at work) but when I tried to join UNITE they replied saying they cannot accept me because there is no current union representation in my workplace.

Now the Unite website specifically said they represent call centre workers, so does this mean that if there no union representation of any union currently at my workplace I cannot join a union?

That's the whole reason why I want to join, so I have representation of someone who knows about workplace law if I need it.

Please advise, thanks.

Danthus · 28 Jul 2015 at 21:46

amigafan is your man.

bainbridge · 28 Jul 2015 at 21:53

Does anyone actually know the answer to this?

[TW]Fox · 28 Jul 2015 at 22:55

bainbridge said:
Does anyone actually know the answer to this?

You might need to wait more than 7 minutes after your original post before getting irritated that nobody has answered your question yet :eek:

Dunks · 28 Jul 2015 at 22:56

Why don't you ask Unite? :confused:

Thekwango · 28 Jul 2015 at 22:59

google is your friend.......and from the unite website.

http://www.unitetheunion.org/campai...tion/howdowegoaboutgettingtheunionrecognised/

you need to muster support from fellow workers (majority)

Windle · 28 Jul 2015 at 23:27

Thekwango said:
google is your friend.......and from the unite website.

http://www.unitetheunion.org/campai...tion/howdowegoaboutgettingtheunionrecognised/

you need to muster support from fellow workers (majority)

You'd have been better copying this link http://www.unitetheunion.org/campai...oiningtheunionifimtheonlymemberinmyworkplace/

The answer is yes, you can join a union. Even if there are no other union members at your workplace, you'll be able to contact a union rep for advice when you need it, and if required they will attend meetings with you in the event of redundancy etc.

fendi · 28 Jul 2015 at 23:31

try and get yourself voted in as rep for your office/department.. then you will know about bad news hitting you before anyone else does

Pudney · 29 Jul 2015 at 00:05

Windle said:
You'd have been better copying this link http://www.unitetheunion.org/campai...oiningtheunionifimtheonlymemberinmyworkplace/

The answer is yes, you can join a union. Even if there are no other union members at your workplace, you'll be able to contact a union rep for advice when you need it, and if required they will attend meetings with you in the event of redundancy etc.

Which makes it odd the OP says UNITE told him he couldn't join!!

Thekwango · 29 Jul 2015 at 00:10

Windle said:
You'd have been better copying this link http://www.unitetheunion.org/campai...oiningtheunionifimtheonlymemberinmyworkplace/

The answer is yes, you can join a union. Even if there are no other union members at your workplace, you'll be able to contact a union rep for advice when you need it, and if required they will attend meetings with you in the event of redundancy etc.

Ah quite right. My bad, just grabbed the first link I googled

Skidder · 29 Jul 2015 at 07:21

Amigafan will be along shortly to preach about unions and will somehow shoehorn his retirement, gambling job and westfield into his post.