UNITY-Spring-Summer-2014-FINAL.pdf-for-web

UNISON Devon County Branch
UNISON Young Members - more than meets the eye!
Get appy!
Meet Jack Gillard. He’s the
Branch’s newest Young Member
and works as a Planning
Technician, at County Hall,
Exeter.
Name: Jack Gillard
Job: Planning Technician
Age: 21
Star sign: Virgo
Yummiest Food: Pizza (any)
Favourite band: Foo Fighters
Best film: The Wolf of Wall Street
Love or hate Marmite? Love it (but
only on toast not bread!)
What made you join UNISON?
The threat of losing the PR6 bus
service which I use two days a week.
My UNISON steward said that the
issue was something the union was
fighting so I thought I’d join and
support it too. As we all know, many
voices are stronger than an individual
challenging a cause alone.
Why do you think unions are
important for young people?
In a time where everything is being
cut and it’s so difficult to get a job,
things are especially hard for young
people. Anyone that will fight for your
rights (not to party; we’ve got to do
that) is something that everyone, not
just young people, should be getting
involved with.
What are the top three issues
UNISON should focus on?
Pensions, fair pay and employment
rights.
Keep up to speed with
UNISON via the smartphone
app. It’s got the latest
union news, campaigns and
information on how to join,
update your details or get
involved and help us to support
public services.
See the world!
Well not quite! But you could
go to Cuba! Every few
years UNISON South West
offers one lucky member the
opportunity to travel to Cuba
to learn more about trade
unionism. There is even a
little free time for sightseeing!
With free festival tickets and a host of cash saving deals, there’s more to being
a UNISON Young Member than meets the eye! So, read on and find out why,
from only £1.30 a month, it pays to join UNISON.
What is a trade union?
It’s an organised group of workers
who have joined together to
achieve common goals such as
better wages and safer working
conditions.
Who is in a trade union?
Ordinary working people - nearly
7 million in the UK. They include
actors, professional footballers,
teaching assistants, engineers,
social workers, apprentices, school
support staff.
How do trade unions work?
Union members agree a common
aim of what they want to achieve
such as more pay or stopping
bullying at work. Union reps
gather evidence about the issue
and discuss it with their employer
to reach an agreement. If the
employer refuses, union members
can campaign for wider support
from the public, MPs, or, as a last
resort, going on strike.
What are our successes?
In recent years, unions have
campaigned for, and won: a
national minimum wage; improved
parental leave; equality justice;
laws on reasonable working hours;
minimum holiday and sickness
entitlements; health and safety at
work; pensions...not to mention
thousands of local agreements
on issues affecting particular
workplaces.
“A Young Member is
any UNISON member
under the age of 27.”
www.unison.org.uk/young
What are the cash saving deals?*
Below is a small selection of the
current deals on offer. To see the
full range, visit: http://www.unison.
org.uk/for-members/memberoffers-and-entitlements/exclusivedeals-and-offers/
• Save up to 50% off the cost of a
holiday
• Get between 3% and 6% cash
back in-store or online at a range
of major retailers, including Argos,
Boots and ASDA with UNISON
Prepaid Plus Mastercard
• Save up to 40% on home
insurance
• Get up to £500 worth of NHS
dental cover
• Free eye test, including digital
retinal photography, upon purchase
of eyewear over £50
• Save an average of £150 on gas
and electricity bills
*Terms and conditions apply.
Photo: Mark Harvey@iD8.photography
http://www.unison.org.uk/news/unison-app/
Free music
festival tickets
UNISON gets a small number of free
tickets to music festivals including
Reading, Leeds and Glastonbury
via the Workers Beer Company.
Members volunteer to work a few
hours each day behind the bar in
exchange for a free ticket, free
camping and some free food and
drink vouchers.
Contact:c.musgrave@unison.co.uk
Get involved!
Both the regional and the national
Young Members Committees meet
quarterly. The meetings aim to
bring young members together to
share experiences, knowledge and
plan the various activities around
the region. If you fancy going to a
meeting, you won’t be out of pocket
as UNISON reimburses travel costs
and expenses.
Contact: Branch Office: 01392 382530
Contact: c.musgrave@unison.co.uk
Train up
.
Want to stretch those little
grey cells or brush up
on the basics? UNISON
offers a huge variety of
courses for Young Members
ranging from confidence
building and campaigning to
speech writing and political
education.
Visit: http://www.unisonsouthwest.
org.uk/get-involved/educationtraining.ashx
Weekend Break
Each year UNISON’ holds a
Young Members’ weekend
where members from
across the UK meet to find
out more about the union
and how they can play
a part in campaigning to
defend public services.
Contact:c.musgrave@unison.co.uk
Get social!
Keep up to date
with the latest union
news and offers by
liking the Branch
on Facebook and
following us on
Twitter.
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