Why join?
Because in sectors that are unionized, people earn more and have better working conditions. This is confirmed by studies, data and evidence
from all over the world, including Slovakia.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a federal agency of the US Department of Labor, union members earn an average of 18 percent more than non-members. The latter lose about $10,000 each year. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, unionized workers earn $1,600 a week, while regular workers earn just $1,349. Over a year, that's a difference of more than $13,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
The most prosperous countries in Europe, Finland, Sweden, Norway are world leaders in the number of employees associated with trade unions. They are also EU leaders in the standard of living of the population - both in average wages and in their conversion to local prices. Source: OECD , Eurostat
The Volkswagen auto plant in Bratislava has the strongest unions in Slovakia. The average wage there (excluding management) is almost 2,700 euros . This is much more than in industry, but also in Bratislava, which has long been the highest in Slovakia. Source: pravda.sk
Membership in unions is anonymous. Markíza does not have a list of names or numbers of members.
Most employees simply cannot negotiate adequate wages or conditions individually. This is natural. People are afraid of conflict, they do not know how the employer will react, especially if the employees are the sole breadwinners of their families. They do not know the legal options, and often do not know how to argue properly. Therefore, the employee is always the weaker party to the contract. When joining a union, they do not have to deal with any of this, because unions protect their interests and rights collectively, at a professional level. By joining, the employee expresses support for the union and thus provides them with a better position when negotiating with the employer about their conditions. Moreover, union membership creates a strong sense of solidarity and support among colleagues.
Membership includes
Collective bargaining for higher wages, salaries, working conditions and benefits
The ability to contact unions at any time in case of problems at work
Legal assistance in case of unjustified termination of employment
Access to exclusive benefits
and contests
Preserving freedom of the press
This is included in membership for internal employees. In relation to them, we have extensive competences and possibilities for negotiation and assistance according to the Labor Code.
However, unions can also include externalists
An example is the FREELANCERS UNION in the United States, which has been helping more than 500,000+ freelancers for 25 years, pushing for their equal treatment and ensuring benefits.
For us, everything depends on how many members from individual professions we associate. If we have the strength of a large collective, no company can ignore it, regardless of whether they are internal or external collaborators. We are pushing for the employer not to abuse external workers as cheap labor, especially if their activity shows signs of so-called dependent labor - and this can be performed exclusively in an employment relationship. We also have the ambition to negotiate tariffs, valorization and minimum rates for specific external professions in order to prevent their long-term undervaluation.
Additionally, externs have the same access to all of our benefits, discounts, and competitions as internal employees. We also offer them the opportunity to contact our unions in case of any problems at work.
Membership fee
In the first year of our organization's operation, a few members financed its activities, mostly from their own money. We are talking about many thousands of euros that we voluntarily invested in defending news values, monitoring compliance with the Labor Code, building the foundations of our organization and achieving our first successes. This system is unsustainable in the long term, so membership fees are the main source of financing for any trade union organization in the world. They cover necessary expenses, especially for legal representation during collective bargaining, but also operational costs for accounting, website operation, information systems, etc. All expenses and management are transparently controlled by the Audit Commission and the Member's meeting has the opportunity to familiarize itself with them. Without membership fees, any negotiation about better wages or conditions is impossible.
REGULAR MEMBERSHIP
10€
monthly
internal
employees
SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP