I work for a local authority as a librarian - which union should I join to protect my rights?

Question

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Should have a Govt Office Workers Union (something like it as in S'pore - British type) to protect Govt or Civil Servants,   Check out with one of your Unions around.  

Answer 2

Unison for the UK & afscme for the US.

I think I remember Unison getting some bad press & they did nothing when my friend needed them.

The Unison story - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...

Answer 3

Assuming you're in the UK and not Ireland, go to the TUC website

http://www.tuc.org.uk/

or phone them on 0870 600 4 882

They will know which union is appropriate to your job.

Unfortunately my work is covered by Amicus, and I don't feel joining them is compatible with my membership of the Liberal Democrats due to Amicus' abuse of their political funds.

Answer 4

I thought they got volunteers to do that.

There are still Libraries around?

Answer 5

I would suggest Unison.

But ask your colleagues.

Answer 6

If it is the UK - Unison

Answer 7

UNISON would be the most common in the UK.

On political funds - UNISON has a GPF (general political fund, unaffiliated) and APF (affiliated political fund) - the latter is affiliated to the Labour Party, which you can opt out of.

It depends, though on which union your workmates are in. If they are all in GMB or Amicus, it makes sense to join that union - as you can all support each other if you need to.

As to the "three wise monkeys" leaflet that Croxx is referring to - this was because the UNISON leadership were witch-hunting members of the Socialist Party, who had distributed the leaflet. They tried to claim that the leaflet was racist, when it was simply illustrating that the leadership were not listening to ordinary members. Specifically, they were being denied a say on whether the union should give any funds to the Labour Party. Click on the source below for more information and to back the campaign.

Just because UNISON has a right wing leadership, though doesn't mean that joining the union is a waste of time - it is democratic and branches can sometimes take action whatever the leadership say. Also, by joining, we can elect a fighting leadership.

(I am a UNISON shop steward in a hospital in Leicester and am in the Socialist Party myself).