Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre
Trades Union Council
jump to menu Your Rights in the Workplace
Everybody has the right to belong to a trade union. Visit the union finder for suggestions on the most appropriate union to join.
Please check out the following pages:
- TUC: Know your Rights
- workSMART - from the TUC, contains a huge amount of useful information
- Information for workers from other countries
Ten Good Reasons to join a Trade Union
- You earn more in a Unionised Workplace
Average earnings are around 8% higher in unionised workplaces. - You're less likely to be discriminated against in terms of age, disability, race, sex or sexual orientation -
Black and Asian trade unionists earn 32% more than non-unionised colleagues do. Trade Unions have campaigned for tougher anti-discrimination laws, which came into effect in 2003, making it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of religious belief, marital or family status, and sexual orientation or gender reassignment. - You get more annual leave in a Unionised Workplace -
The average trade union members in the UK gets 29 days annual leave a year compared with 23 days for non-unionised workers. - You're less likely to be injured at work -
All employers have a legal duty to provide a safe workplace and safe equipment and working methods, but unionised workplaces have health and safety officers to make sure the employer sticks to their legal obligations. - If you do get injured at work, you'll get better compensation -
Unions won over 321 million in legal compensation for members who were injured or became ill at work in 2000. - You get more maternity leave or parental leave -
Unionised workplaces are 12% more likely to have parental policies in place, which are more generous than the statutory minimum. - You get more and better training
Workers in unionised workplaces are more likely to receive job-related training. - You're more likely to get equal pay for work of equal value -
Workplaces with union recognition are 20% more likely to have an equal opportunities policy in place. Despite equal pay legislation, women currently earn only 83p for every £1 earned by a man. - You're less likely to be sacked -
Trade Union members are only half as likely to be sacked as non-members are. - You will be part of an international network to share good practice with trade unionists across the world, and provide mutual support where workers are facing exploitation or intimidation for union activity.
You're better off in a union.
Workers from other countries
You have the same rights as all other workers to belong to a trade union, to be paid at least the minimum wage and not to be exploited.
The national TUC website has information for migrant workers. Or see some of the following information:
General Information
Blackpool
President: Martin Penfold; Secretary: Andrew Wheatley
©2006-2008 Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Trades Union Council - All Rights Reserved
Page last modified: 2007-01-01 19:15:58 +0100