I'm thinking of joining the union at work

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I'm thinking of joining the union at work. Only thing is you have to pay a couple of quid out your wages and I'm not sure I can afford it on my budget.

Do you think it's worth it?

Difficult question!

I joined one years ago but left when they became too political. To me a union is about protecting all workers, not advancing political or ideological propaganda. This isn’t inclusivity imo.

I rejoined a while ago because where I work it is recognised so without being a union member I don’t get to see what they’re proposing (by law if a union is recognised at a workplace, they represent all workers, even those who aren’t union members ).

But it doesn’t sit well with me, there’s way too much politics and ideology, and not enough pragmatism, and too much groupthink imo. Some of their demands are unreasonable imho, so I may leave soon.

But not all unions are the same, depends how you find the one where you work and if you feel comfortable.

Yes, I don't really like two-tier systems, which I can see will happen in the union.

Also it's £2.60 a week to join and I couldn't afford that. Maybe a month I could, but not a week. Me and my partner are on a tight budget.

In my opinion joining The Union is usually a good idea.

I’d say only if what you’re getting out of it is worth the money you’re putting in.

As the OP says, they’re on a tight budget so it depends on what they’d be getting out of being a member and if it’s worth the money.

I agree that in certain situations it’s worth it, even if it’s just to get access to information (the law is flawed imho, unions shouldn’t get to ‘represent’ non-unionised workers without having to share the relevant information with them, but this is for another conversation).

So, imo only the OP can decide if joining in their circumstances justifies the cost.

I am not sure how it works in England, but Unions can be hit or miss in the USA. It's a tedious process to get a Union election too, you have to have 30% of the workplace sign cards to get an election, which The NRLB presides over. Not to mention companies making employees watch anti-union propaganda films or putting up posters with anti-union stuff on them. Which IMO should be illegal nationwide, it is in California and Illinois I know.

Some unions just take your money and do nothing, which happened in my case. I had 2 retail jobs where I had to join The UFCW and they were useless. Still, many do deliver too.

When I was in my 20s and early 30s I was very right wing and of course opposed to all unions. Now I see them in a more favorable light, as I've distanced myself from politics and especially some of the right-wing views I had.

Still, if a company says you don't need one, you likely need one.