Here is a selection of some of the questions we’re asked – a lot! Hopefully you’ll find your answer here, but if you’d like to ask us something new please complete a contact form  and we’ll endeavour to respond as soon as possible.

Get Community in your corner

Join the modern union for a changing world.

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I’m not a member but I need help with a work problem, is it too late to join?

It’s never too late to join but the amount of help we can offer you depends on your issue and what stage it has reached. The best thing to do is contact our Service Centre and a member of our expert advisory team will let you know how we can help.

Nobody else is in a union at my workplace, can I still join?

Absolutely. There are plenty of benefits to being an individual member of Community, including getting access to advice and representation should you need it.
Once you’ve joined and discovered the many benefits of being a Community member you might want to tell your colleagues about it. And if they need convincing, it’s worth knowing that employees in unionised workplaces earn 14.8% more on average!

My company/organisation/boss is anti-union, what should I do?

You have a legal right to join a trade union and you don’t need to tell your employer that you are a union member. If you’re facing a grievance or disciplinary process you are entitled to be accompanied by a trade union representative. It’s entirely up to you, and only you. If you don’t want a union rep by your side you can still get advice about your situation from our Service Centre team.

What is union recognition?

Union recognition is when an employer agrees to negotiate with a trade union over the pay, terms or conditions of its employees. Some agreements between unions and employers go further to cover pensions, training and wider workplace issues.

It doesn’t look like you’ve got members in my sector, should I join?

We support workers right across the UK economy. Thousands of individuals are joining Community to get protected at work. Although we have larger groups of members in certain sectors, we can advise any UK worker on your rights at work and provide you with representation.

I think there’s another union at my workplace, can I still join Community?

We would always recommend that you join the recognised union (the union that your employer has agreed to deal with) at your workplace. If you’re not sure about union recognition at your workplace, contact our Service Centre team who can advise you.

How much does it cost?

Our fees range between £2.74 and £19.98 per month depending on your situation. You can pay by Direct Debit or directly via your pay. And you can cancel your membership at any time, with just a month's notice. You can view a breakdown of our membership fees here..

How soon after joining can I get help? Is there a qualifying period?

As long as any problem or issue you want us to help with didn’t begin before you joined, then you’re protected. If you have a pre-existing issue ¬– it’s best to contact our Service Centre team who can advise you.

Some of our wider benefits need a qualifying period of membership, for instance, our benevolent fund and child benefit. Furthermore, our bereavement benefit builds up as you continue your membership.

If I want to cancel my membership how much notice do I have to give?

You can cancel with just one month’s notice.