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North Devon Health branch

North Devon Health Branch
North Devon Health Branch
representing health care staff in North Devon

Membership of UNISON

As a member you can ask:

for help with a UNISON workplace representative. Our local reps draw on the expertise and support of the whole union and will work with you to find a solution.


Your friend for life:

When you join UNISON you are also entitled to special deals on holidays, insurance, financial services and savings plans. We also offer a UNISON credit card and a vehicle breakdown service. UNISON Welfare, our own registered charity, provides support for UNISON members and their dependents in difficult times.


Get involved:

If we work together, our collective strength as UNISON members means we can try to improve things in your workplace. If you have ideas about how to make work a better place - from better lighting in the car park to more flexible working hours - UNISON gives you a voice and can also provide training and support.

You'll be surprised what a difference you can make.

'Your friend in UNISON'.10 Good Reasons To Join UNISON - Your friend at work

""You earn more.
Year on year, UNISON wins pay rises for its members. Average earnings are around 8 per cent higher in unionised workplaces.


""You're more likely to get equal pay.
UNISON is campaigning to bring women's pay into line with men's.

Workplaces with union recognition are 20 per cent more likely to have an equal opportunities policy.

""You get more holiday
UNISON has won increased leave for many of its members wherever they work.



""You get more and better training
UNISON provides courses to help you learn new skills, improve existing ones and develop your career. Since 1994 UNISON has won agreements with employers to pay for courses and provide time off for employees to attend them.

""You get more maternity leave or parental leave
If you belong to UNISON, your employer is more likely to have parental leave policies which are more generous than the statutory minimum.


""You're less likely to be injured at work
UNISON health and safety stewards are trained to minimise the risk of workplace injuries and ensure that employers meet their legal obligations.


""If you do get injured at work, you'll get better compensation
UNISON wins millions in legal compensation for people who are injured or become ill at work. Trade unions won £321 million for people who were injured or became ill at work in 2000.

""You're less likely to be discriminated against
UNISON campaigns for tougher laws to make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, age, disability or sexual orientation.

Black and Asian trade unionists earn 32 per cent more than non-unionised colleagues.

""You can help keep our public services public
UNISON campaigns against all forms of privatisation, including PFI and Foundation Hospitals.

Where our members have been transferred to the private sector we have won them pay and employment protections.

""You're less likely to be sacked
Trade union members are only half as likely to be sacked as non members.

Joan's a UNISON member who has an elderly mother she cares for. She has benefited from her local UNISON branch negotiating a carer's leave scheme and flexible working so that she can care for her mother every day. Joan is a lot less stressed. She is now able to balance her home and work commitments.

As a UNISON member you can benefit from these locally negotiated policies. Like Joan, if you want to get more out of life, join UNISON. We helped Joan get a life.