The Union Advantage says that union members get higher wages, better sickness and pension benefits, are much more likely to be able to take advantage of flexible working and are able to take more annual leave. The report cites official statistics showing that workers in a union earn 12.5 per cent more an hour than employees in a non-unionised workplace, taking home average hourly earnings of £13.07 compared to £11.62.
The presence of a union is likely to push training up the workplace agenda, encouraging members to take up courses to improve their skills which their company can then benefit from in the form of improved productivity. Over 230,000 workers were helped into taking up some form of learning by their union last year, says the report.
The Union Advantage also says unions and their safety reps help make workplaces safer and reduce the chances of employees becoming ill because of stress, bullying and other workplace hazards. And as well as winning a better deal for their members, unions can also save the employers a lot of time, hassle and money, says the TUC.
With UK collective bargaining coverage now barely 33% of the workforce and private sector density as low as 15% the report and campaign initiative are very timely.
http://stats.berr.gov.uk/UKSA/tu/tum2008.pdf