UNISON is the recognised Trade Union at Anglia Ruskin University for Professional Services staff.

Working alongside and with management, the Anglia Ruskin University Branch of UNISON are involved with all aspects of employee negotiations – pay, issues affecting your working environment, employee policies and so on. Everyone has the legal right to be a member of a Union.

Here at ARU, Academic staff are represented by UCU, and Professional services staff by UNISON.

Why join a trade union?

Quite simply, you are better off in a trade union. For a start, in workplaces where there are unions, people earn around 12.5% more than non-unionised workplaces.
Unions also campaign and lobby to persuade the public or government that their cause is reasonable.
So members benefit from the strength and security that comes from people working together to tackle problems.

How do trade Unions work?

Union members agree a common aim of what they want to achieve. This might be about pay or bullying at work or challenging unfairness, for example. Representatives from the union gather evidence about the issue and present it to the employer. They discuss the matter with the employer to reach an agreement.

If the employer refuses to reach an agreement, union members can broaden their campaign to win wider support in the workplace. This may be with the public, or at a national level with MPs and in government, or as a last resort, taking strike action.

Trade unions also provide legal representation for workers, for example to win compensation in the event of injury at work. Many trade unions, UNISON included, also provide other benefits and discounts on services for their members. You can think of your membership of a trade union as your insurance policy for work.

In UNISON - the trade union for all public service workers - we believe in:

Equality - we are all different, but we all deserve to be treated with respect and fairness. All of our voices should be heard.

Solidarity - we work to support each other at work and in society.

Democracy - our members have a right to make the decisions that shape their union.

Participation - we aim to share our skills, commitment and creativity to build a stronger union.

Trade union successes

In recent years, unions have campaigned for and won:

- a national minimum wage
- improved parental leave provisions
- equality legislation
- laws on reasonable working hours
- minimum holiday and sickness entitlements
- health and safety in the workplace
- pension provision

... as well as many thousands of local agreements on issues affecting particular workplaces.

To find out more about joining UNISON, including subscription rates and more in depth details about the benefits your will receive, please click here.