by Chris Bartter

Forty eight hours after Matt Smith launched UNISON's One in a Million campaign in Scotland, the TV advert hit the screen in the middle of Coronation Street and Channel 4 News.

An estimated 10.5 million watched the Coronation Street screening on 6 October with a further 1.5 million tuning into Channel 4 News.

The advert forms part of a £1m recruitment campaign launched by UNISON two days earlier in London and Glasgow. It features a women (Gwynne McElveen) walking through the streets to the offices of her boss (Paul Butterworth). She is joined by more and more workers and as they walk, Harry Nilson's 'One' is playing.

She walks into the boss's office - he ignores her until the whole queue of people cough simultaneously, shaking the room and making him pay attention.

Matt Smith, UNISON Scottish Secretary, said at the Scottish Launch. "This is a significant campaign that will also involve members, full time staff and retired members. We aim to reach into the heart of Scotland's public services and ensure that all staff are aware of, and have he opportunity to join, the union that speaks up for them.

"UNISON's membership has been steadily growing for the last few years, but we need to recruit around 10% of our members every year, just to maintain our numbers."

In the run up to the advert showing, UNISON Officers and activists have been distributing thousands of postcards asking 'Are you one in a million?' at transport stations and major workplaces.

Glyn Hawker, Scottish Organiser, Development and Organisation said. "Television is a very effective medium. Our message -that with UNISON behind them members are not only protected at work, but their voice will be heard where and when it counts -will be delivered directly into people's homes."

The advert will be shown around 3,000 times in the three week period following October 6. It is running on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and satellite across the UK. The final showings on STV will be on the Paul O'Grady five o'clock show at 17.58 on Wednesday 20 October, Parkinson at 23.00 on Saturday and Foyle's War at 20.50 on Sunday 24.

Materials that make use of the imagery from the TV ad are available. A poster, A5 flyer and postcard can be ordered direct from the telephone via the online catalogue or downloaded from the website. The stock numbers are 2356 (poster), 2357 (flyer) and 2358 (postcard). Branches wanting to use images for press adverts can get them from www.unison.org.uk/recruitment/pages_view.asp?did=1373

There are also some publicity shots and behind-the-scenes stills on the same page.

Now over to you

Now is the time to capitalise on the campaign, order up the materials available and get out and recruit members. Just five per steward would give 22,000.

Edinburgh Branch tell us they recruited 12 members in a section they thought was fully unionised by setting up a roadshow. Living proof that the single biggest reason people do not join is that they have never been asked!

… and a member who is glad he joined!

Tom Seggie, from East Dunbartonshire, has his job back because he was a UNISON member. He came along to the Recruitment Campaign launch and told SiU why he was backing the campaign.

"I work as a care worker for a voluntary sector employer in Bishopbriggs," said Tom. "I was employed under a variety of contracts continuously from 2001 to May 2003 when the employers sacked me, claiming I was a temporary worker covering a woman's sick leave. This was the first time this so-called 'cover' had been mentioned!"

UNISON took this case to Employment Tribunal and won. The Tribunal ordered his reinstatement and his employer complied. He is in no doubt that he would not be in that job just now if it weren't for UNISON.

"As the advert says, 'One is a lonely number'," said Tom. "I couldn't have pursued my unfair treatment all the way to Employment Tribunal if it wasn't for the support of UNISON. I am very happy to add my voice to those pointing out that the stronger a union is in terms of members, the more effective it is in defending those members - members like me and you."

Tom was also awarded £25,000 compensation to cover his pay from his dismissal in April 2003 until the ordered reinstatement in August 2004. He also won three years pension contributions that his employer had failed to make!

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