Trade Union Membership

In the early discussions we focused on the fundamental principles of a Trade Union, however once employees are employed mostly they are reluctant to read their staff book let alone familiarise themselves with the Trade Union until they are in need of their services. In rare cases some even go to the extend of not being part of the Trade Union, instead opting to save the money that the TU gets for services rendered or due to be offered. The current economic recessions have realised a lot of redundancies and once again the much needed support of the trade unions has been called upon.

Trade Union Membership has not always been high especially the past two decades according to the British government - https://www.gov.uk/join-trade-union/trade-union-membership-your-employment-rights .Employees have the right to join a trade union, a s members there are a number of rights to which employees are entitled and close analysis has reflected the following;

• Members should not be denied employment because of their membership
• Dismissal for trade union membership
• Membership activities or on union recognition grounds entitle members to claims of automatic unfair dismissal.
• Conversely employees should not be forced to join trade unions
• Remain or cease to a union member
• Job applicants are also protected against being refused employment or discouraged from applying on the grounds of membership or non- membership of a union
• Breach of the above right gives prospective employees the right to claim for compensation at employment tribunal.

Employee protection extends not only to those dismissed in such circumstances, but those subjected to detriment(unfairness), or selected for redundancy on these grounds. Therefore any breach from the listed rights entitles employees or ex-employees to bring a claim at employment tribunal for compensation.

Therefore I urge all employees or prospective employees to read and understand the role of the trade union, ask questions where they do not seem to understand so that in the event of the unthinkable happening there is an easy way out or assistance is readily available. in most cases there are unfair dismissals but due to lack of knowledge, in most cases employees are coerced to quit because of threatening prolonged court action by big organisations or companies mainly due to costs on their part.