We're better off in a union - fact

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/we-re-b ... vo.twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Workers who belong to a trade union are, on average, paid almost £4,000 per year more than non-union members according to a statistical bulletin published by the government yesterday.

The report by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, found that the average hourly rate earned by unorganised workers in 2013 was £12.42, compared to a unionised average of £14.45.

Total union membership in the UK last year was 6.5 million, which was almost unchanged from 2012 - representing a small increase among private-sector employees and a small drop in the public sector - and this was just over a quarter of the total UK workforce.

CWU general secretary Billy Hayes said: "This is a further confirmation of what we've been saying for some time - that workers are significantly better off in a trade union.

"The only way to tackle the cost-of-living crisis is to organise"

"The figures speak for themselves, and there's more to this than wages - unionised workers have better working conditions, shift and overtime premia, holiday entitlement, sick pay, pensions, and most important of all, job security protections," he added.

But Billy also highlighted the less welcome facts revealed by the study, which showed that only just over a quarter (25.6 per cent) of UK workers belong to a trade union.

"Here at the CWU we're working hard to recruit more workers employed in the communications, postal and logistics sectors, and this is the most pressing challenge facing all unions today - the only way to tackle the cost-of-living crisis is to organise."

Other interesting statistics reported by the study show how the gender balance within the movement has changed - male union density reducing from 35 per cent in 1995 to 23 per cent in 2013, while female density has remained comparatively stable at between 28 and 30 per cent and about 55 per cent of union member employees are now female, up from 45 per cent in 1995.

For more information read the BIS Statistical Bulletin: Trade Union Membership 2013. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... n-2013.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[janitor]

Yes I agree. May by just not this one.

[fishtank]

Whereas I agree with the overall sentiment using over simplistic measures like pay levels is misleading.
The lowest paid are exploited not because they are not in a union but because they are on the lowest rung of a capitalist free market model, The lowest rung has never been unionised in the UK. Most unionised jobs in the UK are now in the public sector(or ex-public sector as in our case), are skilled, semi-professional or professional(apart from us) and are obviously going to be slightly better protected from the harsh reality than entry level, unskilled minimum wage jobs.

[hans solo]

just now

[Red Robbo]

"Your better off as a Union rep -fact" you mean, cushy jobs, loads of overtime, do nothing for the membership.

[donein]

"Your better off as a Union rep -fact" you mean, cushy jobs, loads of overtime, do nothing for the membership.

my thoughts aswell. I,m alright jack

[Fulham14]

Workplaces with active unions - health and safety reps are also safer than non unionised work places.
Unions are good for business too. As imProved safety saves money on sick pay etc, unions are anti discrimination which increases the talent pool open to employers. Also union intervention at workplace disputes prevents on alot of occasions need for resolution through legal means.
They are good for society too in that they defend the health service, council housing and campaign for equality.
Unions generally consist of working tax paying members of society. They have been demonised to the point where their voice is not as strong.
Who does it benefit when the working man/woman had no voice in society?
Where I believe the Unions have got it wrong is they do not publicise enough the good they do for society and that their members are in fact productive members of society.
I am not a union rep and I am not a trot but I believe we -the majority in this country- should have more input into how this society is run and conditions we work under.
The unions are opportunity to do this.
Or you can rely on the CBI, the Banks or the right wing press to fight for you.
See what I mean -they have a say and we don't!