Avantages adhésion syndicale
Worker unions are commonly thought of as groups that organize workplace strikes, but they do a lot more. Although the importance of labour unions has waned in recent years, they remain vital in today’s workforce.
If you’re thinking about joining a trade union, there are several advantages to doing so. To begin with, joining a union will help you obtain the support you need at work. This article explains what a union is, the advantages of joining one, and how to join one.
What is a union?
A union is a group of employees who band together to improve their working rights, employment terms and circumstances. Unions can help people individually, such as at disciplinary hearings, as well as collectively by bargaining for better wages, conditions, and benefits on behalf of all employees.
Unions use balloting and communication to arrange industrial action (also known as strikes). During a strike, the union negotiates on behalf of the workers with the union employer. Trade unions are typically independent of employers. However, they may be affiliated with a specific industry. Unions can also participate in political campaigning.
Can anyone join a union?
Nurses, checkout clerks, truck drivers, and airline pilots are all represented by unions. Unions assist workers in banding together, preventing unjust treatment, and obtaining a better deal from employers.
Here is noteworthy info about unions:
- It is legal for you to join a union. An employer cannot discriminate against you because you are a union member.
- Some unions may have membership requirements. This is generally due to the fact that they represent people who work in specialized fields.
- Generally, unions are unable to assist members with issues that occurred prior to their union membership.
How do unions work?
It can be tough for a single employee to approach management about a workplace issue (for example, forced overtime or late wages) and fix the issue on their own. Unions operate on the premise that if all employees speak with one voice, management is more likely to take notice.
This entails union members in the same workplace gathering to discuss shared issues, democratically making collective decisions on workplace matters, and presenting these viewpoints to the employer. Individual members frequently pick a union representative to advocate on their behalf and discuss their problems with management.
The union and management have regular formal meetings if they have a recognition agreement (where the company has agreed to engage with the union to set personnel terms and conditions). Individual contributions from union members are used to fund the organization. Unions are constantly working to increase membership, by organizing new members and building an active membership. This gives them more bargaining power in discussions with employers.
Is it worth joining a union at work?
Union members, on average, earn more than non-union members. They are also more likely to receive better sick leave and pension benefits, as well as more paid vacation time and more control over shifts and working hours. This is because, rather than leaving wages and conditions to managers, workers band together to negotiate them.
Unions ensure that workers join and are treated fairly. For example, by fighting management closure of pension plans and preventing new workers from being hired on less favourable terms. Unions pressure employers into making workplaces more welcoming to women, LGBTQ workers, minorities, the elderly, and the disabled. Women are considerably less likely to have problems at work when pregnant, on maternity leave, or when they return to work when there is a strong trade union.
Is it illegal to unionize?
By law, every employee has the right to choose whether or not to join a trade union and participate in legitimate union operations. It is illegal for an employer to take action to prevent a worker from exercising this right, whether at the time of recruitment, during employment, or after termination of employment.
If your employer tries to prevent or dissuade you from joining a union or participating in lawful trade union activities, such as by threatening you with the loss of a benefit or offering you a benefit in exchange for not joining, you should get legal advice as soon as possible. The union will be in a good position to resolve the situation.
What benefits do unions provide?
Unions are a multifaceted force for good in the workplace. Employees are granted a variety of benefits, including protection in the event of strike action. Let’s look at some of the advantages of joining a trade union:
Industrial action privileges
An organized lawful strike will raise awareness of crucial organizational challenges if the trade union ballots employees on industrial action and it passes. As a union member, you would be protected from disciplinary action, which you may face if you elected to walk out on your own.
All striking team members will most likely be in breach of contract, but if they are members of a trade union, they will be protected from employer retaliation. As a result, once the strike is over, you can return to work without fear of retaliation.
Higher pay
Members of trade unions typically report higher earnings than non-union workers. For starters, collective bargaining allows unions to seek salary raises on behalf of employees. When compared to a single worker bargaining with his or her supervisor for a raise, this safety-in-numbers strategy often tips the balance in favour of the employee, not the company. Members can also get advice from unions on how to negotiate wage raises.
Support workplace issues
If you’re a member of a union, you’ll always have someone that has your back if you need help at work. You can have a union representative in the room with you if you get into difficulties at work, or if you are a victim of harassment or discrimination, for support and advice on what to say. Typically, union members cannot speak on your behalf, but their understanding of employment rules, what employers can and cannot do, and what the organisation is legally accountable for ensuring is a valuable asset.
Explore your legal options if you’re facing harassment at work
Which industries have unions?
Despite the challenges that unions face, they continue to represent a significant portion of government employees, even while their share of private sector positions has declined dramatically. But why are some industries run by labour unions and others aren’t?
Unions were originally formed to assist employees in certain industries in achieving equitable salaries, benefits, and workplace standards, among other things. Industries that commonly have unions include healthcare, education, and the public sector.
Can you join a union without a job?
If you become jobless but want to stay in the industry, you can keep your membership active by switching to attached unemployed membership. Please keep in mind that while a union may not be able to help you find work, you will be able to seek union support on work-related matters from the first day of your new job.
Do you have to tell your employer if you join a union?
You have the freedom to choose whether or not to join a trade union. Employers have no right to know if you are a member of a union. During an interview, you should not be asked about your union membership, views, or participation.
If you believe you have been denied a job, fired, or passed over for advancement because of your union membership or participation, you should get legal assistance immediately, as this is a form of discrimination that is illegal. The same is true if you believe you were fired as a result of your union membership or union activities.
Can an employee sue an employer in Quebec?
Do unions really help employees?
Workers can unite in a powerful, collective voice to express their unhappiness and frustration to management through unions.
Now, more than ever, working people require the protection of a union. Some firms have attempted to circumvent workers’ rights legislation by claiming that the new style of working, the gig economy, in which zero-hour contracts have flourished, does not require such protection. They claim that workers are not employees, but rather self-employed contractors. Nevertheless, unions are forever combating such claims and bringing representation to their workers.
Can you leave a union at any time?
You have the right to resign from the union any time you choose. You would not be subject to union regulations and punishment as a non-member, in addition to not having any financial commitments to the union. Non-members, for example, are not subject to union bylaws and cannot be punished for working during a strike.
If you resign from a union and stop paying dues, and your public employer has collective bargaining, the union is still obligated to represent you fairly and without discrimination in all matters subject to collective bargaining, and you cannot be denied any benefits under your employer’s labour contract because you are not a member.
However, non-members are unlikely to be allowed to vote on contract ratification or union officer elections, and there may be member-only advantages available under the organization’s constitution or bylaws that are not available to non-members.
Need legal advice?
Before joining a union as a worker, you must educate yourself on your rights and responsibilities. Accident Solution specializes in assisting employees in ensuring their integration into a union and asserting their rights in the event of a conflict with an employer or a contested judgement.
