Trade Unions – Why Join? And who

helps you in the work place?

Learning Outcomes: what you will know…

To give two reason to join a Trade UnionTo give two reasons not to join a Trade Union

To name the four main duties of a Shop Steward

To name three problems a Shop Steward may deal with.

To Join or Not to Join?

• You are 17 and at college. • You get an 8 hour part-time job as a

Tesco Trolley collector, you get paid £3.53 per hour the National Minimum Wage. (£28.24 per week)

• On your first day you are asked by Jan, the Usdaw Shop Steward (Trade Union representative), if you want to join the trade union, She gives you a leaflet with some information about joining a Trade Union and a web-site to visit. It costs £1.30 per week to join.

• Study these now!

Decision Time?

• Before you make up your mind you decide to find out what Jan can do for you, so you have to find out what a Shop Steward actually does?

Ac t iv it y

EXTENSION Read page 77 and complete activity 3 from

that page.

Read the worksheet Take the title Trade Unions – The Shop Steward – in your jotterComplete Questions 1-7 in full sentences.

No Hands-Up No Shouting-Out

• Who elects the shop steward?• Name a main duty of the shop steward?• Name an issue a shop steward may deal

with?• What is a good communicator?• Name a way a shop steward make sure that

other workers know what is going on at work?

Should you join?

• Now you know what Jan does, you can make up your mind to Join Usdaw or not!

Discuss with a partner the reasons why you would or would not join Usdaw, remember your situation: student, pay, hours or work, cost.

Record two reasons why you would join, and two reasons why you wouldn’t join in the speech bubbles. Make a decision choose your ONE reason and be prepared to share it with the class.

Colour me in if you have the time

Trade Unions – Why Join? And who helps you in the

work place?

You are successful today if you know… Two reasons to join a Trade Union

Two reasons not to join a Trade Union Four main duties of a Shop Steward

Three problems a Shop Steward may deal with.

For 1- 4 decide if you are happy, ok or unsure about each, write/draw these in

your jotter.