Why should I join UNISON?

You'll be joining the largest union in the UK with a team of professional officers trained to negotiate on your behalf for better pay and conditions. We also provide free legal advice and representation for work-related disputes, such as disciplinary hearings, and personal injury claims. 

How much does UNISON cost to join? 

How much you pay each month for your membership is determined by your salary, so better paid members will pay more. Membership starts from only £1.30 per month. We offer a simple monthly subscription based on your income. Eligible students and apprentices can also join UNISON for just £10 a year. 

I am already a member of a union. Can I also join UNISON?
Yes, you may be a member of more than one union – that is your choice.

Do I need to tell my line manager I have joined a union?

No, your union membership is confidential. You are not legally required to tell your employer you have joined. It is illegal in the UK for employers to fire, demote, or discriminate against you for being a member or taking part in union activities.

What are the benefits of UNISON membership?

Membership of UNISON gives you essential cover, wherever you work. Every member receives our full range of member benefits which includes: advice, support and help when you need it at work a help line that is open until midnight during the week and 4pm on Saturdays. 

What other services are available to members?

You can also get: legal help for you and your family, financial assistance and confidential debt advice, compensation for accidents and injuries at work, a range of exclusive discounts that can save you and your family money and education and training opportunities leading to vocational and professional qualifications.

Can I get more actively involved in UNISON?

We want all our members to be engaged and proud of their union membership. You can more get involved in your workplace, participate in union campaigns and events or volunteer at your local branch. We provide free, professionally-run training for members who want to become UNISON activists and representatives. 

What is the quickest way to change my details?

You can update your contact details (phone number, email), employment details and subscription information online via our secure members area. You can also call UNISON on 0800 0 857 857 (Monday to Friday 7am to 11pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm).

Why do I need to update my details?

In order to be eligible for our full range of services and for us to be able to give you support, please keep your membership details up to date. Providing your email address and phone number is also the fastest and easiest way for us to contact you.

How do I keep my membership up to date?

It is a member’s responsibility to ensure your subscriptions are paid at the correct level and in a timely manner.  If you pay your subscription via Direct Debit, you must keep your payments up-to-date. You may not be eligible for representation if your subscriptions are in arrears. If your subscriptions are deducted directly from your employers payroll, the amount you pay will be periodically adjusted to reflect any changes to your salary. 

How do I change my bank account details?

You can change the bank account details used to collect your Direct Debit payments online via our secure members area. You can also call our Membership team 08000 857857 (Monday to Friday 7am to 11pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm).

Can I change the date of my Direct Debit?

Members can choose to have subscriptions collected on either the 1st, 15th, or the last working day of each month. If UNISON makes any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, we will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited. 

What happens if I miss a payment? 

Your membership will cease if you are more than 3 months in arrears. If you do fall into arrears, you may be able to pay the subscriptions that you missed in order to receive the full benefits of membership. 

What issues can UNISON help me with?

Anyone can face problems at work, but members of UNISON don’t have to face them alone. Whether it’s discrimination, redundancy, bullying, leave or sickness procedures – there are various ways we can help members on a wide range of issues. We have hundreds of helpful articles if you want more information and advice about an issue.

I need support at work, can UNISON help?

As a member of UNISON, your are entitled to receive free advice, representation and legal assistance once you have been a member for four weeks. Like many other trade unions, our benefits and services are only available to current, fee paying members and are unable to offer representation on employment issues that predate your joining date or occur in the first four weeks of your UNISON membership.

When should I contact UNISON about an issue?

If you are a member and think you have a issue we may be able to help with, then please get in contact sooner rather than later. We are in a better position to help at the start of a problem than further down the line. In many cases we are able to offer advice and support to help resolve issues informally. Our representatives may also need to advise you of potential Employment Tribunal time limits.

Can I still be a member of UNISON when I retire?

If you’re retiring from paid work, you’re welcome to become a retired member of UNISON. Our retired members organise regionally and nationally and hold the Retired Members’ Conference each year. To become a retired member, you need to fill in a form and pay a £15 one-off life membership fee. Please contact your local branch for more details. 

What happens if I take unpaid leave?

If you’re taking unpaid leave, on long-term sick or disability leave or planning to take maternity leave you can ask for your subscriptions to be paused or reduced. You can let us know by completing a form in our secure members areaor by calling our Membership team on 0800 0 857 857 (Monday to Friday 7am to 11pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm).

What is the four week rule?

As a member of UNISON, your are entitled to receive free advice, representation and legal assistance once you have been a member for four weeks. Like many other trade unions, our benefits and services are only available to current, fee paying members and are unable to offer representation to new joiners with employment issues that predate your joining date or occur in the first four weeks of your UNISON membership.

What is the UNISON Rulebook?

UNISON’s rules govern the way the union runs and how various parts of the union, including branches, regions, service groups and membership groups, work. They also outline the rights and responsibilities of members. Theses rules are published in the UNISON Rulebook. A new edition is produced after every national delegate conference, which incorporates the latest updates and rule changes. 

Making a complaint

Every UNISON member has the right to seek advice about workplace problems or help on matters relating to their employment and to be treated with respect and integrity by a trained UNISON representative. If you have an issue with our services, you can find out more about making a complaint.

As a member of UNISON, you may be entitled to 70% tax relief on your UNISON subscriptions. We secured this benefit for our members after extensive negotiations with HMRC. You can also claim a tax refund on subscriptions for previous years as long as your tax affairs are in order.