We're ready to be your voice at work

Private healthcare excess cashback

One of our most popular benefits - Accord members can claim back 50% of the excess they’ve paid under their employer’s private healthcare scheme, up to £100 per 12-month period. The scheme is available to Accord members with private healthcare from their employer, after 12 months of full, continuous membership. For most of our members that's £75 cashback.

In 2024 the private healthcare cashback scheme paid out £106,446 to 1,404 members.

Only one claim can be made within a 12-month period - the treatment must occur during that same 12-month period.  Terms and eligibility criteria apply.

Travel club

The Accord travel club is operated by Benchmark Travel, no other travel company has the same incentive to offer you the exclusive member discounts and levels of service that we do. It's a free member benefit as part of your membership with Accord members. What's more, your family can use this service, and you can even share discounts with your friends as long as you're travelling with them.

From UK staycations to worldwide tours and everything in between, we can find something for you, your family and friends, usually at better prices than you'll find anywhere else. And you won't find better service elsewhere either - the Travel Club team worked tirelessly during the Covid-19 pandemic to rearrange and protect our members travel arrangements.

• We guarantee to beat package holiday prices with Jet2 holidays and Easyjet holidays. And our prices can’t be found cheaper! With many other operators our prices are usually better than their internet or travel agency prices.
• We aim to beat other genuine internet and Travel Agency prices.
• We can help you find the perfect trip, whatever type of break you're after - we can tailor-make trips to your requirements, or you can choose one of our specialist tours
• We're open for all your family members to book
• We provide ATOL & ABTA protection for peace of mind
• We've got a 24-hour emergency helpline, offering a truly unique and excellent level of customer service

Visit the Accord Travel Club website to find out more and to help you plan your holiday arrangements. You’ll also find travel advice, latest news, offers and competition details!

Tel: 01422 847 847
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.accordtravelclub.co.uk

Legal services

Legal advice

Experts you can trust. All union members and immediate* families are entitled to use this service. The advice is completely confidential, free and easily accessible.

* Immediate family means your spouse, partner and dependent children.

In 2024 over £2.5 million pounds in compensation was won by Accord and its legal team to settle disputes at work. That’s roughly £208,000 every month.

Personal Injury claims

If you're unfortunate enough to be injured in an accident, legal experts on our personal injury claim line can help. They can advise on any type of injury and will ensure you receive maximum compensation* as quickly and simply as possible.

In 2024 our legal team won £28,881 in compensation for our members.

* Maximum compensation means you receive 100% of any compensation awarded. Other 'no win, no fee' solicitors will take up to 25% of your compensation.  

Other legal services

Members can benefit from a wide range of legal services at discounted prices. Take a look at what's available for you in your area.

Will writing

Members and immediate* families can benefit from a free** online Will writing service as well as discounts and expert legal advice on more complex Wills.

Different types of Wills are available to suit your circumstances.

The service is provided by three leading law firms - depending on where you’re based in the UK.

* Immediate family means your spouse, partner and dependent children.

** Complex and offline Wills will incur a charge however Accord members will receive a discounted rate.

Commission cashback

Taking out a mortgage or income protection policy and fancy some extra cash? Our brokers can find you competitively priced policies and the best bit... they'll give you back a lump sum which could be up to the cost of your first 9 months' premiums. Members’ partners and other close relatives can use the scheme too. 

The average lump sum cashback paid out under the scheme is:

• £430 for insurance
• £870 for equity release
• £500 for mortgage reviews

The commission cashback scheme is provided by two brokers; Lifelink and K&M Financial Advisors Ltd. Both brokers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and specialise in sourcing income protection, life insurance and critical illness. 

Lifelink also offer additional services for Accord members, including equity release and mortgage reviews.

Simply contact one of the two brokers below and they'll find you the most competitively priced policies:

Lifelink:   01189 349 800  |   [email protected]  |  www.life-link.co.uk

K&M Financial Advisors Ltd:   01706 218719  |   [email protected]  |  kmfinancial.net/accord/

Subscription draw

Every month the Accord Subscription draw makes a lucky jackpot winner £5,000 better off. Runners up each get £250 - and there will be at least 12 runners-up prizes each month.

Members can purchase up to 5 tickets in the monthly draw at £1 each.

You can add or remove tickets in the subscription draw at any time by logging into your account.

The subscription draw is run by Accord. Terms and conditions apply.

Lifelong Learning Fund

The Lifelong Learning Fund provides support to members who want to learn new skills, from flower arranging to a master’s degree – you can apply for a grant whatever you fancy doing on your self-development journey. The fund will provide grants of up to 50% of the cost of courses and training materials, up to a maximum of £500. 

In 2024 the Lifelong Learning Fund paid out 27 grants totally £10,294.

Grants are available to members who are currently pursuing studies or planning to undertake them in the future - they cannot be used for studies that have already been completed.

If you’ve been an Accord member for at least 3 years and would like to apply for a grant from the Lifelong Learning Fund, please complete an application form. We review applications on a quarterly basis

Free subscription for new parents

Accord members who take maternity, adoption or shared parental leave may be entitled to a subscription free period of up to 12 months.

Applications must be sent to Accord before the period of leave starts, and members must read the scheme rules to check eligibility before applying.

Those who are eligible for the free period will still be able to use our services and membership benefits whilst on leave.

Terms and eligibility criteria apply.

Reward

For over 40 years, Accord has been achieving improvements for members. All through constructive dialogue with your employer.

We negotiate terms and conditions of employment and continuously campaign for improvements. The most obvious of these negotiations occurs annually. Yes, we're talking about whether or not you get an annual pay rise and how much you'll get. But we do more than talk about pay.

Throughout the year, our team of experienced negotiators talk to your employer about policies and procedures that govern the way you're treated at work. Things like better parental leave and pay policies, how performance is managed and how issues are resolved fairly. We demand first class safety in the workplace - our record and your employer's treatment of workers during the Covid-19 pandemic speaks for itself.

Support

First class support when you need it

There are many ways that we support our members:

• Our dedicated, skilled team of officers and legal advisers are really accessible. They provide individual advice, support and representation at grievance, health wellbeing & attendance, performance, or disciplinary meetings, and are on hand to talk you through any other work-related matter that crops up.
• We have around 350 trained workplace representatives who complement our professional team, spread right across the UK. They're on hand to help you out in your workplace when things aren't going so well. Reps are the beating heart of the union, and often the first port of call offering advice, guidance, information and representation.
• We've built a catalogue of useful in-depth guidance on our website, covering policies topics such as disciplinary, grievance and health & wellbeing, as well as guidance on menopause and financial wellbeing.
• Our help centre provides self-help answers at your fingertips covering a broad range of topics about union membership, our benefits, employer specific policies and guidance - plus more.

Benefits

We offer an additional benefits package making membership even better value for money:

• Private healthcare cashback: One of our most popular benefits - Accord members can claim back 50% of the excess they’ve paid under their employer’s private healthcare scheme, up to £100 per 12-month period. The scheme is available to Accord members with private healthcare from their employer, after 12 months of full, continuous membership. For most of our members that's £75 cashback. Find out about healthcare cashback
• Accord travel club: Discounts on holidays, weekend breaks, airport parking and more. The travel club is operated by Benchmark Travel and is a free benefit for Accord members and their families. Find out about the travel club
• Legal services: Get access to free, confidential legal advice on any matter - including personal injury claims. The services are provided by leading law firms across the UK and can be accessed by Accord members and immediate families. Find out about legal services
• Will writing: Members can benefit from a free online Will writing service as well as discounts and expert legal advice on more complex Wills. Find out about will writing
• Commission cashback: Taking out a mortgage, life insurance, critical illness or income protection policy and fancy some extra cash? Our brokers can find you competitively priced policies and the best bit... they'll give you back a lump sum as cashback. Find out about commission cashback
  
• Lifelong learning fund: The Lifelong Learning Fund provides support to members who want to learn new skills, from flower arranging to a master’s degree – you can apply for a grant whatever you fancy doing on your self-development journey. The fund will provide grants of up to 50% of the cost of courses and training materials, up to a maximum of £500. Find out about lifelong learning
• Subscription draw: Join the Accord subscription draw by logging into your Accord profile and updating your payment subscription to include tickets in the draw. Every month the Subscription draw makes a lucky jackpot winner £5,000 better off. Runners up each get £250. But you’ve got to be in it to win it! Find out about the Subscription draw
• Free subs whilst on maternity / parental leave: Accord members who are due to go on maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave may be entitled to a subscription free period of up to 12 months. What's more, you'll be able to use our services and the member benefits whilst on leave. Find out about the free subscription eligibility

Voice

When you join Accord, you're joining more than just a union - you're joining an extended family with over 21,000 other members!

Accord is a grown-up, modern trade union that believes there’s a right way to achieve results - and that's through constructive relationships with employers and other unions. By keeping the lines of communication open, even when we disagree, we can find a way to make the situation better. 

Accord is an independent trade union - that means we don't receive funds from employers which would come with restrictive ties on what we can do or say. We're funded through our membership subscription - nothing else. That's an important consideration for members when choosing a union, and it means that we can focus our efforts on supporting members without constraints.

Accord is a democratic organisation - everything we do is centred around the interests of our members and our collective objectives. A primary aim for the union is to protect, promote and represent the interests of our members. To do this, we have agreed with employers the matters on which we consult and negotiate. Communication and the collation of feedback from members underpins this.

Our voice is louder and stronger when we join together. That's why workers join a union.

Protection

Every year, we support members who run into problems at work - from smaller issues like getting holiday approved, to the significant things like facing disciplinary action. We'll make sure you're treated fairly – without you having to worry about paying for legal support. Whether the problem is with employment contracts, harassment, redundancy, pensions or discrimination - your union will be there to help you.

Accord has negotiated some of the best job security terms in the industry and we’re experienced in supporting members who are at risk of redundancy.

Think of us as an insurance policy for your job and you'll be on the right lines.

Equality

Accord stands up for your right to work in an environment free from discrimination and to ensure you're treated with dignity and respect.

We value diversity and actively oppose all forms of harassment, prejudice and unfair discrimination. Nobody should have to face bullying or harassment at work. Nor should they feel afraid to be themselves. Accord campaigns for dignity and respect at work for all workers.

We’re here to help if you’ve been treated unfairly at work because of your gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, colour, class, caring responsibilities, marital status, sexuality, disability, age, or other status or personal characteristic. And we'll assist you in challenging discrimination should it occur.