Pensions outrage pushes up union membership

The government’s planned slashing of public sector pensions has seen workers flock to sign up for union membership, according to public services union UNISON.

Following general secretary Dave Prentis’s strong statement on the issue last month, new recruits have been signing up at a rate of 750 a day — up from 550 a day before his speech.

UNISON assistant general secretary (organising and recruitment), Roger McKenzie, also told Labour Research magazine that the union put on a net 20,000 members in 2010, with the total now standing at 1,333,000 (see Labour Research August 2011).

A surprise element of the union’s recruitment success is the numbers joining online. According to McKenzie, one in three new members now signs up online, and he predicts that 60,000 will do so in 2011.

UNISON research has shown that 35%-40% of members joining do so on their own initiative, rather than being asked by a union representative, and for such people it may be easier to go to the website than to find the relevant union branch contact.