Being a UNISON member gives you a huge range of benefits, including:

Unrivalled protection and representation at work
Help with pay and conditions of service
Health and safety guidance and support
Confidential welfare services for you and your dependents in difficult times
Excellent legal services including free help with work problems and legal support for members and their families
Pensions advice
A special hotline, UNISONdirect, for help and advice on workplace issues
Online employment and workplace advice
Education and training advice and courses, leading to vocational and professional qualifications
Cash benefits for accidents and injuries at work
A colour magazine sent to your home four times a year, a monthly magazine for our stewards and activists and a full range of publicity
Special deals on everything from computers, tax returns, holidays, mortgages, car breakdown services, insurance and credit cards
Our own holiday centre for members and families at the Devon seaside

10 GOOD REASONS TO JOIN UNISON

    Membership costs from as little as £1.30 a month

 You can earn more. Year on year, UNISON wins pay rises for its members. Average earnings are around eight per cent higher in unionised workplaces.

 You're more likely to get equal pay. UNISON is campaigning to bring women's pay into line with men's. Workplaces with union recognition are 20 per cent more likely to have an equal opportunities policy.

 You get more holiday. UNISON has won increased leave for many of its members wherever they work.

 You get more and better training. UNISON provides courses to help you learn new skills, improve existing ones and develop your career. Since 1994 UNISON has won agreements with employers to pay for courses and provide time off for employees to attend them.

 You get more maternity leave or parental leave. If you belong to UNISON, your employer is more likely to have parental leave policies which are more generous than the statutory minimum.

 You're less likely to be injured at work. UNISON health and safety stewards are trained to minimise the risk of workplace injuries and ensure that employers meet their legal obligations.

 If you do get injured at work, you'll get better compensation. UNISON wins millions in legal compensation for people who are injured or become ill at work. We won more than £28 million in 2009 for members and their families.

 You're less likely to be discriminated against. UNISON campaigns for tougher laws to make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, age, disability or sexual orientation. Black and Asian trade unionists earn 32 per cent more than non-unionised colleagues.

 You can help keep our public services public. UNISON campaigns against all forms of privatisation, including PFI and foundation hospitals. Where our members have been transferred to the private sector we have won them pay and employment protections.

 You're less likely to be sacked. Trade union members are only half as likely to be sacked as non members.

Members: stay in contact

With jobs under threat, funding cuts and attacks on our pensions rights, you need to know that your union can contact you quickly.

UPDATE YOUR DETAILS ONLINE

If you are a current UNISON member you can view and update most of your details online

Never Viewed your Details online before?

You will need to have your UNISON membership number to hand to register

Membership enquiries

You can check your application to join UNISON, get active in the union, cancel your membership or change your subscriptions.

Help at work

For urgent help and advice at work contact your North Essex Branch 07590 814049

If we are unavailable call UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845 (or textphone 0800 0 967 968) for information on how to contact them. Lines open 6am-midnight Monday-Friday and 9am-4pm Saturdays

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