Selling the benefits

How to sell the benefits of UNISON membership

The economy is in a crisis. At a time when public services and the workers who provide them are under attack on all sides, UNISON is speaking up and campaigning on their behalf. 
We are proud to be a campaigning union and are leading the way in defending public services and the jobs of our members.

We need to convince potential members that UNISON is the union for them and that the benefits of membership provide a real reason to join. 

Members and activists can:

• illustrate arguments to join the union with real-life examples of how the union has been effective in their workplace.
• be honest about the union: don’t make rash promises, but do highlight areas of hope.
• remind potential members they will be part of an organisation that cares about public services, the communities they serve and the workers who provide them – and is dedicated to giving those workers a voice: both within their union and in the wider community.
• explain how UNISON provides members with help and support. Whether it’s discrimination, bullying, leave or sickness procedures – wherever potential members work, a UNISON rep will be on hand to help. Visit our Get Help section to find out more about helping members with workplace issues, legal advice, professional complaints, and UNISON Welfare (There for You).
• go through the benefits that members can access, including accident benefit for work-related injuries, insurance packages, mortgages and credit card, discounts on holiday packages and leisure activities.
• talk about training opportunities. UNISON opens the door to more and better training through our own courses and our partnership with the Open University. Our network of union learning reps can advise members and in many cases we have negotiated time off for training with employers, who will also pay for courses.