Unions

Unions

Trade unions are what you need to pay attention to! This is not where your grandmothers were.

During the discussion on the topic of abbreviations @vickier made me turn my attention to the trade unions (we have a proud name - ametiühing), for which many thanks to her. Even I, with 10 years of experience in various organizations, heard about such a cool thing for the first time.

To begin with, share in the comments what associations did the word trade union evoke in you? I will share what I have with a company of people who have nothing to do, who fight for rights where this is not particularly necessary, and I had a stereotype that people of the age enter there in order to occupy their work schedule with unnecessary questions (I apologize in advance to everyone ). But they wiped my rose-colored glasses.

Trade unions and their buns.

So what's so cool about unions? Firstly, it is a kind of official financial "insurance" in all matters of labor litigation. Union membership gives you support in fighting for wages if you have any doubts that you are underpaid, free legal assistance in labor matters, financial assistance in case of unemployment and further list depends on the union you want to join. So, if you are suddenly laid off, then you turn to the trade union and a whole organization with its lawyers stands up for your defense in order to see whether everything was legal and whether you received all the compensation or even whether the employer violates the law with his actions. In addition, I will mention that workers who are members of the union are obviously treated very carefully, since any manipulation with them entails consequences and litigation. In Germany, for example, the power of the trade unions is very great, strikes are made with their help and changes in conditions are required from the organizations.

And now to the most important thing. I thought unions were for certain areas only. For example, transport workers or production workers, but I was surprised when I found out that absolutely ANY worker can even join, for example, the Transport Union (Transpordi Ametiühing). Their conditions are such that you need to pay 1% of the gross salary every month, which, of course, is not small, but, on the other hand, belonging to such organizations has its bonuses. What do you need to join it? You can simply send an application on their website, you can transfer money yourself or ask the employer to withdraw from your salary every month, although in the latter case you will have to reckon with the fact that the employer will know about your membership. Such knowledge can entail both pluses and minuses (some tension in relations with superiors). I sent a statement to the transport workers, on the recommendation of two people, I was told that this is the strongest union, ready to fight wild fury.