WHY ARE YOU TAKING STRIKE ACTION?
The majority of Union members have voted to take action. The pay offer wasn’t sufficient to help us keep up with the highest rate of inflation in 40 years. It is effectively a pay cut. Negotiations haven’t achieved an acceptable pay offer so we need to send a strong message that we won’t accept this offer and that means taking the last resort of strike action.
We want the university to focus its efforts on lobbying the government to reform higher education finances, instead of continuing to take the easy option of cutting staff pay.
THE PAY OFFER IS FINE – WHAT IS THE FUSS ALL ABOUT?
The majority of UNISON members disagree with that. Over the last 10 years pubic sector pay has been frozen or below inflation. How long do we allow that to continue?
If we get higher pay, we spend it which helps the economy. If the richest people in the country have more money, they squirrel it away, find ways to avoid tax on it and only bankers and themselves benefit.
Prices aren’t falling in line with our pay and we need to be able to keep up.
WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE JOBS
Jobs are being cut without us taking industrial action. It is only by resisting the cuts through action that we can force a change of direction with the employer. We know they have the money, we just have to convince them to prioritise staff in their spending.
I CAN’T AFFORD TO STRIKE
We can’t afford to carry on with below inflation pay rises. UNISON pays strike pay so no one should lose out because of fighting for better work conditions.
I’M NOT A MEMBER SO I CAN’T GO ON STRIKE
You can join! Join
Your employer doesn’t need to know you are a member (obviously if you take strike action they will soon learn you are!)
I CAN’T AFFORD TO JOIN A UNION
We appreciate that some people may struggle to pay union subs, but UNISON sets their subs on a sliding scale depending on earnings – it is worth checking to see what you would have to pay.
https://joining.unison.org.uk/membership-rates
It’s also worth taking some time to check out the UNISON website for the various discounts and offers that members can get.
UNISON also has a charity called ‘There for You’ and there are various ways they can help people who find themselves in financial difficulties.
I DON’T LIKE TRADE UNIONS
Unions are the only ones who can negotiate our pay so if you want a voice in that system you need to join one. Unions are about collective action so you need to be involved if you want to influence change. The people negotiating our pay are workers like you and me. The people who decide the union rules are workers like you and me. The decision makers in our union are workers like you and me.
You can be involved and active in your union and influence change if you don’t like how things are done.
Al workplace benefits have been won by Unions, from weekends, paid annual leave, sick pay and health and safety protections.
I DON’T WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF A UNION
Being a member of a union is the only way to get your voice heard as we are the ones who negotiate with employers. You may find that it is also incredibly useful to be part of a Union so that you can be helped if you have any issues at work. Unions can help people who are experiencing discrimination, harassment, bullying, changes to working conditions and other employment issues. You can also help others who are experiencing issues. It’s very much a collective group established to help each other.
It is important to know that you have to be a member if you plan to take strike action.
I DON’T LIKE THE POLITICS OF TRADE UNIONS
With UNISON your subs get split between the branch, the South West Region and UNISON nationally. The part that goes to UNISON Nationally you can choose whether some of it goes towards the Labour Party or to a general fund to help with National campaigning that the union does, unlinked to any political party.
Trade Unions were established to support and represent workers and the Labour party was also established for the same reasons so they have always had a very close relationship as their objectives are often similar.
UNISON welcomes members of any political leanings and the important thing about UNISON is that it is member led so if you and enough of your fellow members feel strongly enough, you can be involved and influence change.
I’M TOO BUSY WITH WORK TO STRIKE
Work is often busy and sometimes feels like it takes priority. We feel it is important to ensure that your non-working life is given the highest priority too.
A proper pay rise that sees you able to afford everything this year that you were able to last year will help with that aim.
If we don’t fight for better pay we will still be busy at work but now we will all have to spend more of our precious non- work time with less money to spend and budgeting
MY BOSS WOULDN’T LIKE ME TAKING STRIKE ACTION
It isn’t illegal to take strike action.
UNISON has followed all the rules and make sure we have done everything correctly.
Your boss is entitled to their opinions on strike action but the law offers some protection for being treated less favourably on the grounds of Union activities.
If you are a UNISON member and have any concerns, document everything and contact the branch immediately.
STRIKES ARE DISRUPTIVE AND UNECESSARY
But when negotiations fail to reach agreement, they sometimes then become necessary. No one likes taking strike action and it is always a last resort but we deserve fair pay and this is a legal way that we have to try and influence a better pay offer from the employers
THE UNION HAS TREATED ME BADLY IN THE PAST AND I DON’T WANT TO JOIN/REJOIN
We’re really sorry to hear that you have had a bad experience in the past – do you want to discuss it and see if there is anything we can do to help?
If this was our branch I’m happy for your complaint to be passed to the branch so that it can be looked at if you wish.
If it was another branch – each branch is different as we are all volunteers but it is important to be a member of a union so I’d strongly recommend that you re-join or join another union.