Why Join?
PCS Application Form to download
Consider…
You come to work at 6am. You sit at your desk, doing the same work until midday. You get half an hour for lunch. You then return to your desk, doing the same work until 6pm. You do not get any tea breaks, cigarette breaks or breaks of any kind. You have to do a certain amount of work each day. If by 6pm you haven’t done it, you stay until you do. If you are too sick to come to work, you do not get sick pay. Indeed you may find that when you return someone else is doing your job and you are no longer needed. No notice, no pay-off. You do not get any holidays, save Christmas Day and you do not get paid for that. Your pay is poor and there is no guarantee that you will get paid as much this month as you did last month.
Whilst we are at it the buildings are not safe. The lighting is inadequate, there is no heating or ventilation. There are no fire escapes, let alone evacuation procedures. If there is a fire, it’s everyone for themselves. If you are a lucky one, the boss may throw the odd perk at you, but if you are one of the many unlucky ones you are subject to bullying and harassment by the boss. And there is absolutely nothing you can do about.
Who works in a place like this?
The answer is YOU COULD. You may laugh, but 100 years ago our forefathers worked in these very conditions in the mills and factories. It was only the advent of the Trade Union movement that meant these working conditions were improved. The Trade Union Movement has been at the forefront of every single positive legislative change made in the last century.
So for every single one of you who thinks and says “I do not believe in Trade Unions” remember, if it was not for the Trade Union Movement you would not enjoy the benefits and improved working practices you currently have.
There is argument that we often hear… “Why should I join the Union if I have got all these benefits for free?” It is a good question and it does have a simple answer. There are many aspects of our working lives, however improved, that we still like to grumble about – space flex, IT going down, pay etc – and we expect the union to get management to listen to your concerns. Problem is, if management are going to listen to PCS with anything other than polite disdain, there needs to be an effective stick to back up the metaphorical carrot. That stick is membership density. That means every one of you that can should join the PCS or your respective union (Prospect or FDA) – unless of course, you just enjoy the moan….
