UK based Union?

[ToeJam]

Hey there, I've been freelancing (predominantly as a flash designer) in the UK for about 2 1/2 years whilst doing a degree in photography, and after having a couple of, shall we say, 'late paying' clients I was wondering if there's any kind of union or what not that I could join to get Legal Advice/protection and the like.

A friend of mine is in one for TV & Filmmakers and they were very helpful when someone tried to screw him over, I was just wondering if the web design world has an equivalent, or if anyone a little more experienced in this area has any sage advice on the subject.

Thanks in advance,

Tom

[snapple]

I'm not aware of any. I doubt there would be any kind of actual "union", i don't see how that would work... maybe an advice centre or something, but not a union.

Visit your nearest citizens advice bureau and ask would be the best thing to do.

Regards, snapple

[hangalot]

zeitgeist! we were discussing the same ting, setting up a little union in the uk, granted we were more concerned with getting our day rates higher since most clients really underpay for flash development still...

[ToeJam]

I hadn't considered the pricing side of things, but it's a good point.

if you look at some of the more 'established' mediums in our country, you've got organsations like the Association of Photographers and the Association of Illustrators - They exist to nuture and promote their medium, offerering legal advice, publishing pricing guidelines, asserting the moral and intellectual propery rights of their members etc etc.

They're like an older brother who's got your back when some big corporation's trying to steal your proverbial lunch money; strength in numbers and all that.

I'm a little surprised that nothing like that exists for the web community yet, although I guess its still very young in that respect.

Incidentally it turns out that thanks to my course I'm already a student member of the AOP, so that might come in handy sometime.

Thanks for your replies,

Tom