Apprentices & Young Workers Is Your £5/Month Union Fee a Scam… or Your Best Career Insurance?

In 1973 a British band called ” The  Strawbs ” had a UK chart hit with  “Part of the Union” (they even played in my home town (Kingston-upon-Hull ) but I digress, back in the seventies the Unions in the UK were known for wielding a lot of power, they were probably at the summit of their powers. In came a Thatcher Conservative Government with a mandate to quell the power and put businesses back in firm control, so the days of ” You Can’t Touch me I’m part of the Union” were coming to an end.

So fast forward to the present day and the Unions are still there, albeit not so strong and maybe not so many of them, the TUC (Trades Union Congress) lists 47 different unions with 5.5 million members, previously at its peak 1979 there were over 100 Unions and 13 million members, as Industrialised Britain shrank and more anti-union legislation became law the Unions became less popular. The Unions have therefore had to alter their strategy to help them remain relevant in this fast changing automated world. 

Modernisation of Strategy for a Digital-Native Workforce

As stated above Union membership has been in decline, and the union brand has become associated with conflict, stagnation or irrelevance for many, so to stay relevant Unions have rebranded. To do so, they must broaden the mission beyond wages and benefits, speak the language of empowerment instead of protectionism and embrace transparency and technology. For unions, this represents a once-in-a-generation brand opportunity: to reintroduce themselves to the rising workforce not as relics of a bygone era, but as modern advocates who are shaping the future of work. The unions have significantly altered their strategies to remain relevant and appeal to younger generations ,primarily by embracing digital communication tools and expanding their advocacy agenda to include broader social justice issues,

Key Strategy Shifts

• Digital Engagement: Recognizing that young workers are digital natives, unions are increasingly using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, and internal mobile apps to communicate, organize, and mobilize members. This allows them to reach a dispersed workforce, including remote and platform workers, outside of traditional physical workplaces.
• Platforms like Megaphone (TUC) for quick petitions and email actions.

• Virtual Membership & Services: Streamlining sign-up processes, offering online advice, and hosting virtual meetings or webinars to accommodate younger workers who expect convenience and digital accessibility.

• Broadened Agenda: While traditional issues like pay and working conditions remain important, unions now take proactive stances on issues that resonate with young people, such as:

• • Climate change and environmental issues
  • Racial, gender, and LGBTQI+ equality and inclusion
  • Mental health support and overall well-being
  • Social justice and corporate social responsibility

• Transparency and Modernization: To build trust with a generation sceptical of traditional institutions, unions are emphasizing transparency in their operations and decision-making processes. They are also streamlining bureaucratic processes that can be slow and off-putting to younger workers accustomed to fast-paced digital interaction.

Campaigning on ‘New’ Workplace Issues

• Digital/Data Rights: Unions are increasingly campaigning on issues related to workplace surveillance, algorithmic management (especially in the gig economy, e.g., tracking systems and automated scheduling), and the “right to disconnect” outside of work hours.

• Precarity and the Gig Economy:

  • Challenge: The rise of contract work, zero-hour contracts, and platform work (like Uber/Deliveroo) makes traditional workplace organising very difficult.

  • Union Response: Creating new models for gig workers, like worker-owned data cooperatives or apps (e.g., GigBox, Driver’s Seat mentioned in research) to collect data on pay and hours to challenge algorithms and demand better terms.

The Educated Workforce

Official statistics show that a majority of UK union members now hold a degree or equivalent qualification, and a high proportion are in professional occupations. this is very relevant to the Robotics and Automation industries,

Professional Development and Skills

• Lifelong Learning and Upskilling: Recognising the rapid pace of technological change (AI, automation), unions are pushing employers to invest in high-quality, continuous occupational training and digital skills to future-proof their members’ careers.

• Shifting from Blue-Collar to White-Collar/Pink-Collar Focus: While core sectors remain important, unions are actively trying to recruit in under-unionised white-collar private sectors, tailoring their services to professional concerns like career progression and professional accreditation.

• Younger workers are generally positive about the concept of unions but often have a limited understanding of their practical role or view traditional union activities (like strikes) as less appealing than personalised support.

  • Relevance: Unions need to clearly articulate the benefits in a way that is relevant to a young person’s current job and life (e.g., support during probationary periods, faster dispute resolution).

  • Image and Perception: Shedding the “old-fashioned” image by showcasing modern wins and campaigns that resonate with today’s issues, not just historical struggles.

• Targeted Outreach and Education: Unions are implementing peer-to-peer outreach models, where young members recruit and mentor other young people. They are also engaging potential members in schools and universities through career fairs, workshops, and discussions about workers’ rights, even before they enter the full-time workforce.

A Union in the Robotics & Automation World 

 Unite the Union is one of the largest and most influential unions in the UK, covering manufacturing, digital/tech, and logistics — all sectors heavily impacted by Robotics and Automation. Unite’s strategy effectively marries their traditional industrial strength with a modern approach to the future of work, focusing on control and upskilling rather than just outright opposition and conflict.

Unite represents workers in Britain and Ireland with members working across all sectors of the economy. Together we make up over a million members across 19 private, public and voluntary sectors including manufacturing, public services, transport, food, finance and construction.

There are dozens of reasons to join a union, but ultimately, it comes down to protecting your rights in the workplace. Unite trade union works hard to ensure all workers have the right representation in their workplace, as well as making your voice heard in Government debate and decision-making.

When you join Unite the union, you’ll become part of a diverse and varied community of working people, just like you. Not only will you have our support on workplace issues such as fair pay for all and a healthy working environment; you’ll also have access to a number of Unite benefits such as legal advice, training and education.

PRO’S 

Unite members get:

• Free legal advice and support from experts
• 100% compensation for personal injuries
• Personal injury cover for family members
• Access to a free legal helpline
• Size & Scope: Britain’s biggest union, active across the economy, from buses and planes to social care and science.
• Benefits: Free legal services, financial advice, funeral care, accident/illness/disability insurance, hotel discounts, and educational bursaries.
• Representation: Provides workplace support, representation, and campaigns for better pay, rights, and safety.
• Cost: Varies by income; for example, around £14.95/month full-time, £8.80/month part-time, with discounts available.
• How to Join: Sign up online by providing personal/job details and setting up a Direct Debit; a recruiter’s details can earn them rewards.
• Community: Offers Community membership for those not in traditional employment

CONCLUSION

Back in the day when I served my Apprenticeship you did not really have a choice of whether to be in the Union or not, you would have found times very hard in an Industry or factory  if you didn’t have a Union card, in my case AUEW (Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers), however times have changed and I believe the benefits in what a Union offers is a great resource for the modern Apprentice or tradesworker to have on their side.