For over 40 years, Accord has been working hard to improve members’ working lives.
Let’s look back at 2022 and some of our recent achievements in Lloyds Banking Group …
Watch the video below or carry on reading for full details.
Find out more about Accord?
In the aftermath of the pandemic, and compounded by the invasion of Ukraine, we’re facing the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.
And we’ve achieved all this, and much more, through constructive dialogue with your employer.
Now isn’t that something to shout about?
What we do for our members
When you join Accord, you're joining more than just a union - you're joining an extended family with 21,000 other members! Our members trust us with two main tasks:
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.
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.
Accord has around 400 trained workplace representatives who complement our professional team, spread across the UK. They're on hand to help 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.
Our voice is louder and stronger when we join together. That's why workers join a union. And that's why many in Lloyds Banking Group and TSB join Accord.
Who are Accord
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.
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.
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.
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.
First class support when you need it
There are many ways that we support our members:
There are many ways that we can support you, and it's easy to get in touch with us:
Membership benefits
There are many additional benefits that come with your Accord union membership which provide you extra value for your money. Here's a list of the membership benefits and links to get further information.
One of our most popular benefits - Accord members whose employer provides private healthcare, regardless of grade, can claim 50% of the excess on their policy. For most of our members that's £75 cashback in any rolling 12 months’ period. Full terms apply.
Find out about healthcare cashback
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 benefit as part of your membership with Accord. What's more, your family can use this service, and you can even share discounts with your friends if you're travelling with them.
Learn about the benefits of the Accord Travel Club, including who can use this service, what the travel club can do for you and how they can save you money on your perfect getaway.
Find out about the travel club
Experts you can trust, on hand when you need them. All union members and immediate families are entitled to use this service. The advice is completely confidential, free and easily accessible.
Learn more about the legal services that Accord offers, including the details you need to use these services. We use three leading legal providers across the UK - Slater & Gordon in England & Wales, Dallas McMillan in Scotland, and Francis Hanna & Co in Northern Ireland.
Members can benefit from a free online Will writing service as well as discounts and expert legal advice on more complex Wills.
Learn more about the will writing services, including the details you need to access this service and the contacts for the legal provider in your area.
Paid too much tax, had an unexpected bill from HMRC and want to make sure it's right, or don't understand benefit in kind tax? You can call the free 'Tax Matters' helpline. It's a confidential service for Accord members and their immediate families. Similar advice would cost between £150-£200 per hour if independently sought but provided to members for free by WMT.
Learn more about the tax services that Accord offers its members, they can help you with more than you might think. Check out the service page below which includes further details.
Find out about tax services & helpline
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. The average pay outs are: £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.
Learn more about the products that are available through our brokers and the contact details you'll need to help you save money.
Find out about commission cashback
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. Terms apply.
Learn more about the learning fund and how to submit an application.
Find out about lifelong learning
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!
Learn more about the subscription draw including further details on the prizes, quotes from past winners, and all the important details you need to sign-up or change your entries in the draw.
Find out about the Subscription draw
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.