ver the last six  months UNISON membership,  has increased,  by recruiting over 45 new members in Local Development Companies in Glasgow.

Greater Easterhouse Development Company, Glasgow North Ltd.  have all seen have increases in union membership.

In Glasgow North Ltd. Over 50% of all employees have joined  UNISON and those members have elected two union representative to progress any staff issues and improve working conditions.

Arlene Nunnery UNISON representative at Glasgow North said

"Staff in Local Development Agencies are invariably employed on temporary contracts which can be vulnerable to changes in Government policy and law.  Workers have rights but it is only trade unions who will advise workers of their rights"

Worried about organising in your workplace, when there is no union already there the experience of unionising the workforce at Glasgow North  Ltd. was very positive

"recruiting in a non unionised workplace  was relatively easy as people are a lot more pro trade union that than the press or establishment would have us believe, there can sometimes be a

…workplace theme i.e. health and safety, grading concerns, that catch the interest of all staff.  once non union staff saw people getting help/support which came straight from the trade union they to wanted to join"

Currently UNISON and management at Glasgow North Ltd. are discussing a recognition agreement and  UNISON  workplace representatives have started looking to improving working conditions Arlene informed us of  her plans for the future .

" l am looking forward to working on behalf of members and hopefully gaining successes in areas like terms and conditions it is rewarding work."

UNISON Branch Development Officer in this sector is Jennifer McCarey.  Jennifer is available to talk with any members or non union members about organising in the  L.D.C. network .

"The Scottish Enterprise Branch has funded this post to ensure that any staff looking to organise in their workplace will get the  help  and advice they need.
I try always to be easy to approach both for members and those non members thinking about joining a trade union   
Our first step is to listen  to what your issues are at work and see how UNISON can help.   As Scotland's largest union , our resources mean we almost certainly can."
Contact Jennifer on 0141 342 2879 or email J.McCarey@unison.co.uk

hanks to the British Workplace Relations Survey -a major exercise conducted by the London School of Economics earlier this year  we know that non union members appreciate the role unions play.  61% of working non union members agree that strong trade unions are needed to protect working conditions and wages.

According to the TUC's annual survey Union's won three times more recognition agreements in non union workplaces in 2001 than they  had in the previous year.  470 new deals in the last year compared with previous total of 159.  As a result over 120,000 more workers are now covered by a recognised trade union.