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Dear Colleagues Thank you so much for all your responses to my query about what if any unions library staff belonged to. I started to reply to each one individually but had to give up as there was such a big response - wonderful. A few brief comments to sum up below, and then I've added the full report at the end of this email, (had to edit and shorten people's contributions for brevity and privacy, but I hope I've captured the gist of what they were saying) and attached as a Word doc. Briefly: Unison is widely participated in for public librarians and health librarians, but other unions are represented too (eg education unions, GMB, Prospect, Unite, Voice). Sometimes it was most practical to join the union already onsite at one's place of work, rather than choosing a specific one. It was generally felt a positive thing to be able to call on a union's legal guidance, expertise, and support, should the need arise. Positive experiences shared and a few less good ones too. CILIP was generally held not to be performing the functions of a union. Thanks for you input again, and love to all my vibrant colleagues of the information profession :) Katrina Union membership of library staff General comments ‘Would advise joining a union. They can give advice and offer representation. There are also many benefits.’ ‘For dispute resolution a union is a lot more helpful than CILIP.’ ‘Need to gain recognition in the workplace. ACAS is a good website to advise on this. There may already be a union on site.’ ‘Membership of a Trade Union such as UNISON does give you access to professional legal advice and the use of their legal services.’ Association of Teachers – 1 member ‘As a School Librarian I am a member of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers as it is the only teaching union which includes support staff such as librarians. It has been useful in dealing with a data protection issues...and it also took industrial action over national public sector pay claims. But the problem is that I am a solo-librarian and there are only two other members of ATL at the school, and also as there is no ATL Rep. I tend to work with colleagues in other unions...Previously I was a university librarian (academic related) and was a member of The University and College Union (UCU) - previously Association of University Teachers (AUT).’ CILIP – 3 members (probably more, just people didn’t state it specifically) ‘CILIP does not really help in such matters and is not really a union at all.’ ‘CILIP also offer advice but are not a union.’ ‘Highly doubt whether I could call on them to help with a specific work dispute. Presume they wouldn’t get involved as they don’t seem to do much with public library staff.’ ‘I believe that it would be useful for CILIP to be a trade union and actively support their members in dispute resolution.’ ‘Not sure if the “union” element is covered and would also be interested myself in finding a specialist union for our profession myself.’ ‘It should be remembered that CILIP is not a Trade Union as such, but is a professional body. Therefore it does not have access to some services which a Trade Union might have or have the same negotiating powers.’ ‘CILIP membership does nothing for pay and conditions, which really annoys me for the professional body.’ ‘CILIP has a more advocacy role rather than dispute resolution.’ ‘I’ve never used CILIP for this sort of advice, but have referred to their information on occasion.’ ‘CILIP is not a trade union however, information, advice and support is available to all members throughout their careers, including help finding a job, free career coaching, expert employment-related advice and career development opportunities. A specific and valuable member benefit is the free access to the Employment Law Helpline: http://www.cilip.org.uk/membership/benefits/career/Pages/employmentlaw-helpline.aspx’ ‘Have never considered CILIP as a point of contact for conflict resolution or indeed any real advice. It is a sad state of affairs!’ ‘As to CILIP being viewed as an organisation helpful in dispute regulation - I am sorry but my feeling is that they would be as much help as a chocolate teapot!’ ‘I can't imagine CILIP being a union proper. What can they do for an individual?’ GMB - 2 members ‘Have recently joined GMB as they are the only union with permanent representation here at the prison. I have joined because we are in the process of changing from private ownership to state control.’ NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers) – 1 member ‘Been a member as part of work involves teaching. However recently in dispute this particular union were of very little help at all...they claim it would have been better dealt with by UNISON.’ NUT – 1 member ‘As an experienced teacher I have kept up my NUT membership since becoming a school librarian, because I am frequently responsible for classes, and feel that if anything went wrong the NUT would understand the situation in school well enough to support me. It's a kind of insurance policy.’ Prospect (previously known as IPSM or Institution of Professional Managers and Specialists) – 4 members ‘Been a member for several years... caters a lot for the engineering and scientific community. Used by those working in Library and museum services eg membership from workers within the British Library for instance. Helped settle dispute that Library colleagues were experiencing and it was very good, in fact other non-Library staff joined at the time.’ ‘Member of Prospect, and have found them to be useful in resolution, not CILIP.’ ‘I belonged to Prospect until recently.’ Unison - 21 members ‘Unison very vocal in public libraries.’ ‘It’s great to know that they are there to provide impartial support and advice if needed.’ ‘Helped with a difficult situation a few years ago.’ ‘Work in the NHS...need to be part of a trade union that is recognised by the Trust (e.g. Unison or Unite)... Not found particularly helpful, but possibly more do with situation... If there was a dispute I wouldn't bother getting the trade union involved. I'm seriously considering cancelling my membership in the future.’ ‘Absolutely useless locally in supporting their members.’ ‘Work in FE college and member of UNISON.’ ‘Used to work on my own as a school librarian, and joined UNISON. I felt that in the circumstances of sometimes being the only person in a position of authority on a wet and busy lunchtime, it was sensible to have access to legal support etc if I ever needed it. I have never needed to use the services, but have had non Library colleagues who had Union support in resolving issues and found it helpful.’ ‘Member of UNISON, mainly for idealogical reasons... never had to use their services, but I'm aware that others have...eg colleague wrongly accused of bullying. She was cleared with her union's help.’ ‘I feel comfortable...that I have a union should I need them...Also got a great mortgage deal via Unison and some excellent insurance with good customer service. The additional benefits are good.’ ‘I belong to UNISON, as well as CILIP, but I am a school librarian so need the extra protection that UNISON should offer if needed.’ ‘I used to be a member of UNISON, but found them to be unhelpful (though that may have had more to do with the institution I worked at when I needed them). However, having moved on and gained the word “manager” in my job title, it has also been made abundantly clear that they would not necessarily be any help due to me being a manager! I guess that leaves me quite high and dry unless you’ve found out different...let’s hope I don’t need one eh?!’ ‘Currently a school librarian, previously in public libraries & and have always been a member of Unison. I would strongly urge any colleague who works in education to be a member of any relevant trade union as they provide an extra layer of support. I've not had to use them myself but they have helped other colleagues when issues have occurred with students/parents.’ ‘I work for a County Council and I am a member of UNISON. I’ve never really had any one to one dealings with them but they have been very active for us during the recent restructure and are involved in H&S issues etc. I joined and remain a member because it reassures me to know that I can go to them if I needed help or advice.’ ‘I’m in Unison and have been for years. I would highly recommend joining a union. Unions are the reason we have the terms and conditions we enjoy. Having worked in the private sector too in non-unionised organisations it really makes you appreciate what unions can do and how they can help – especially in this current economic climate.’ ‘I belong to UNISON, recommended for school librarians - not tested out in any disputes as yet!’ ‘Member of Unison and have always been in a Union, wherever I have worked...have worked in academic libraries which have always recognised unions so all pay rises, restructuring, changes in terms and conditions etc. have been negotiated between senior management and the unions. Worked in bookselling and publishing previously; my various roles in these areas were in places which did not recognise unions. Nonetheless I joined a union on a personal level and they assisted me in times of need, particularly in redundancy situations. I cannot imagine working and not being in a union. In these times of change and cuts it seems to me particularly important to have a voice.’ ‘Member of Unison. I am not a staunch unionist but as this is the organisation which is most responsible for negotiating pay awards for Health Librarians I think that I should be a member. I also feel that, it the current employment climate that should there be a dispute that they are best placed to support me. I certainly am aware of some other NHS staff who have found their help invaluable.’ ‘Member of Unison and they have helped me twice: once had accident at work and had to go through the union to claim. Another time employer wasn’t going to pay back pay from when pay rise delayed...Union negotiated for us, employer was going to take us to court to dispute it and a couple of days before they settled out of court. Couldn’t have done it without Unison.’ Unite – 1 member ‘In previous post in a charity, there was a recognised union agreement (which was Unite), where 2 staff were local union reps. This was an invaluable support mechanism, and I believe that some staff did use the union in disputes. I don’t have experience as a union member where this isn’t recognised in the workplace, but if information, advice and support is readily available from a union, I’m sure this would be helpful. Having said that, I left Unite when I got my current job.’ Voice (used to be called PATT – Professional Association of Teachers) ‘Voice are unusual as they won’t take strike action, which I'm not comfortable with as I believe we should not disrupt a child's education by closing schools with strikes. Schools recommend that all their staff belong to a union as we are working with children.’