For over 45 years, Accord has been working hard to improve members’ working lives.
Let’s look back at 2024 and some of our recent achievements in Lloyds Banking Group …
Watch the video below or carry on reading for full details.
Thanks to our collective strength and influence, Accord has delivered real benefits for all colleagues in Lloyds Banking Group.
Let’s take a look at our achievements in 2024:
All of this has been achieved through constructive dialogue with your employer.
Isn't that something to be proud of? Now, let's make 2025 even better!
When you join Accord, you're joining more than just a union - you're joining an extended family with over 21,000 other members! Our members trust us to work on their behalf to improve conditions, negotiate pay and so much more. These are some of the things that we do for our members:
Higher pay, better work benefits
Working people standing together and collectively negotiating with employers means that union members generally get:
This is because unions negotiate with employers, rather than leaving it to managers to decide.
For over 45 years, Accord has been achieving improvements for members. All through constructive dialogue with your employer.
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.
Safer & healthier working life
Unions tackle the causes of ill health at work, not just the symptoms. That means lower accident and injury rates, less stress and better understanding and support for those with mental health problems. Every year, unions collectively train 10,000 workers in health & safety.
Workplaces are safer where there's a strong union presence - you only need to look at the responses of unionised workplaces during the Covid-19 pandemic. Trained reps spot unsafe working practices and cut accident rates. That’s why workplaces with union representation have significantly lower injury rates. That's a fact.
Accord works constructively with employers to negotiate safe working practices and to make sure you're always treated with dignity and respect.
We champion inclusion and diversity. Dignity at work is one of our key goals, and we work alongside employers—and you—to find empathetic solutions to workplace issues.
Support at work
We genuinely hope your employment is happy and fulfilling. But should you run into problems, Accord has your back.
Every year, we support thousands of members who have run into problems at work - from smaller issues like getting holiday approved, to more significant challenges like facing disciplinary action. We 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.
In 2024, we supported more than 600 members in formal meetings - that's roughly 12 colleagues every week who might otherwise have had to handle tough situations on their own.
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.
Strength comes from solidarity. We have over 350 workplace reps who are well-trained, approachable, and ready to offer advice and guidance. Supported by Accord's professional team, they ensure you have both local and expert support whenever you need it.
Additional perks of membership
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.
More about 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.
