Why Join a Trade Union?

by Jo Phillips, David Seymour

The Labour Party was built on them; Margaret Thatcher set out to destroy them. Trades unions, who needs them? The answer is quite simply, anyone who goes to work and who cares about pay & conditions, equal rights, safety and training (or so the trades unions themselves would tell you). Others may call them wreckers and bullies, who just want a fight with the bosses. In a world of portfolio jobs and economic austerity, will people need unions even more for protection or have they had their day along with sheepskin coats and picket lines?

177 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2010

Reviews

[Rebecca eley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book as the other reviews say that it presents a balanced view. Not so. Strong message throughout is poor misunderstood trade union and evil boss. That it is the evil propaganda from UK media that is responsible for tarnishing the Unions' of the 2000's.

The book totally overlooks the fact that some people, even today, are victimised for not joining a union. That some Union representatives still seem more interested in winning a fight than the welfare of the individual they supposedly represent. At points towards the end of the book it also felt like it had moved from reason to hysterics. It is these behaviours, that do exist, that continue to put people like me off Union membership and not the rantings of the Daily mail (which I don't think I have ever read).

[Trevor Howson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely funny. Am more than likely to re-read fairly soon.