Unions: What Are They & The Advantages of Joining One

A trade union is a workers or professional association, the function of which is to improve the situation of workers or professionals at their place of work, and the main objective of the union is to help workers or professionals benefit as much as possible from their work, and to regulate jobs.

How do you join a union?

Joining a union usually depends on which university or college you graduated from, but sometimes it depends on your job and not your qualifications. 

Let’s say you are a journalist or media person by profession but you have a business degree, in this case the union requires evidence that you do actually work for a newspaper or a TV station for example. 

The union does have the right to accept or reject your application. Some unions have a maximum age for acceptance so the earlier you apply the better.

The papers you need vary from one union to the other, but these are the basics:

A copy and original of your qualifications (certificate of graduation).

2 personal photos.

A letter from your employer.

Birth certificate.

Certificate of police record (فيش وتشبيه).

Social insurance documentation.

“You must renew your membership every year or the benefits will lapse.

What are the economic advantages of unions?

In addition to being included in a group of professional colleagues who face the same problems as you, unions have economic advantages through which you can benefit and save money such as:

• Discounts on medical tests and examinations in hospitals and private medical laboratories.
• Discounts in a number of stores according to the agreements made with each union.
• The possibility of benefiting from union clubs.
• The possibility of participating in the events and trips organized by the union which are usually cheaper.

Is a union membership valid for life?

 You must renew your membership every year or the benefits will lapse.