Learn about Accord membership | Member FAQs

What does Accord do?

When you join Accord, you're joining more than just a union - you're joining an extended family with over 22,000 other members!

Accord has around 400 trained workplace representatives who compliment our professional officers across the country who are there to help 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.

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.

With so many members, Accord already has an important seat at the table. But we believe we can do better to influence employers and that's one of the reasons why it's important to join and strengthen our voice. The more members we have, the stronger we are when negotiating about the things that really matter to you.

Our members trust us with two main tasks:

Collective representation of members' views in negotiations with their employer. The most obvious of these negotiations occurs annually. Yes, we're talking about the annual pay & reward review.
Individual representation of members with workplace issues and formal procedures such as at grievance, health wellbeing & attendance, performance or disciplinary meetings.

There are many other benefits to Accord membership too - check out the benefits section on this page.

Check out our membership benefits

How much does it cost?

Accord membership is excellent value for money, starting from as little as £5.25 per month. Subscription is via monthly direct debit at the following rates:

£10.50

For members who work full time

£7.50

For members working full time, but who are agency staff or on a short-term contract. Or for retired members.

£7.50

For members who work part-time (16-34 hours per week)

£5.25

For members who work under 16 hours per week

£5.25

For members under the age 21

Can Accord represent me?

Yes, if you work for one of the following employers:

Lloyds Banking Group (including MBNA staff)
TSB
Schroders Personal Wealth
Communisis
Diligenta
E.Surv
Sainsbury's Bank
Union Insurance
Utmost

If you don't work for one of the employers listed above and you're an existing Accord member (through associate membership), you're also covered.

Join us

How do I join?

You can join Accord online in just 5 minutes – all we need is a little information about you, and all you need is your bank details then you’re set.
Join us online now I need more information about Accord

Alternatively, give our membership team a call and sign up over the phone: 0118 934 1808.

How do I get support?

There are many ways that we can support you, and it's easy to get in touch with us:

For simple support queries or membership questions, chat to us using our online chat facility (available Monday-Thursday 08:30-17:30 & Friday 08:30-17:00). Out of these hours, the chat function will allow you to leave us a message which we'll respond to you by email
If you haven't got much time or your can wait for a response, you can use the quick contact form at the bottom of any page on the website
For more general or urgent queries, we operate a helpline Monday-Thursday 08:30-17:30 & Friday 08:30-17:00. Outside of these hours, we operate a 24hr emergency helpline for issues that can't wait until the next working day. Call 0118 934 1808.
Been invited to a meeting? Complete a representation request
If you need support at work, find someone in your area to support you:
Find your local Accord officer

More about Accord

Let's talk more about Accord, and who we are.

Accord is an independent union

Being independent means that Accord does not 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 not politically affiliated

We're not affiliated to any political party and we don't have a political levy. All our membership subscription fees are used by the union to represent our members' interests and provide them with membership benefits and services.

Accord is affiliated to the TUC, the Scottish TUC and the Wales TUC. Through our work with the TUC, we're involved in campaigns and negotiations with the government of the day on matters that affect workers within our recognised employers and beyond. Accord's General Secretary, Ged Nichols, has been elected to the TUC General Council for 20 years and was elected as TUC President for the 2019-2020 term.

Accord is a democratic organisation

Everything we do is centred around the interests of our members and our collective objectives.

Our aims are incorporated into the rules that govern us and explain how the funds we receive can be spent. 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.

The union also seeks to promote equality in all our work. We actively oppose all forms of harassment, prejudice and unfair discrimination.

I have an existing issue, can I still join?

Of course you can, but bear in mind we can only offer new members who join with an existing issue telephone advice - we can’t offer representation for that particular issue.

If anything new arises during your membership, you'll be entitled to full support and representation, as long as you’ve continued to pay your membership subscriptions.

Join us online now

How do I login to view my profile?

Click on ‘My profile’ and enter your email address. If you get a message that says ‘email address not recognised’ it may mean we have a different email address on your record, so try any alternatives.

You’ll be sent a login link which will expire after 30 minutes. If you can’t see it in your mailbox, make sure you check your junk folder. Once you’ve clicked on the link, you’ll be directed to your member profile where you can view and edit the information we hold for you.

What’s my membership number?

You’ll find your Accord membership number once you’ve logged in to the website – it’s listed under the section headed ‘personal details’.

Alternatively, you can give our membership team a call on 0118 934 1808

How can I update my details?

You can update your personal, employment, direct debit and equality details, as well as your communication preferences, once you’ve logged in to the website.

Some changes will take effect immediately but others may need administrative approval - so don’t worry if you don’t see the changes straight away.

How do I apply for free subs whilst on maternity, adoption or shared parental leave?

If you’re an Accord member and you’re about to take maternity, adoption or shared parental leave – make sure you let us know as soon as possible. You may be entitled to a subscription free period of up to 12 months. What’s more, you’ll still be able to use our services and member benefits whilst you’re on leave.

Before applying, make sure you have read the rules to check you’re eligible.

Apply for a free subscription period

Can I add/remove tickets from the monthly lottery draw?

You can indeed. Simply login to your profile, go to the ‘payment details’ section and select 'edit' next to the lottery tickets field.

Here, you can select the number of tickets you’d like (you can buy up to 5 tickets every month, costing just £1 each).

Once you’ve saved your changes, it may take a few days to process and display on your account as an administrator will need to approve the request.

The total amount for your lottery tickets will be added to your monthly membership payment. Read the rules of the subscription draw.

How will I know if I've won in the lottery draw?

We always contact the top prize winners by phone (our favourite call of the month) and runners up are notified via email. The winnings are paid to members by bank transfer.

If you want to double check if you've ever won, give our membership team a call and they can check your record: 0118 934 1808

How do I cancel my membership?

Cancelling your membership means saying goodbye to protection at work and access to your Accord benefits package.

If you’re moving on to another employer or retiring you can stay with us as an associate member. You’ll still be able to access advice, support, guidance and use the benefit schemes for a reduced monthly rate. You can switch to associate membership by updating your membership details online

Let's talk through your options, and if you still want to cancel, we've got a form for you to complete.

Your options