Lower subs

Around 2,000 members of the professionals and specialists union IPMS are now benefiting from lower subscription rates. Last year the union's conference agreed to adjust the subs structure to help the lower paid. Since the beginning of the year lower paid members will benefit by œ43 or œ21 a year, according to their rate of subscription. Paul Noon, general secretary, said: "The change will cost IPMS about œ80,000. But we think that is outweighed by the move to a fairer structure and the incentive it will create for new members to join."

Unions are increasingly looking to more flexible subscription arrangements to assist recruitment and retention (see Labour Research, November 2000).