UNISON Reviews 

Rupert LOWE or PANARAMA please investigate ad you are great at this.

In House Unison reps and Northwest Unison, I believe "robbed me paying subs without the protection. They are given public time off to do unison work, i then pay subs on top for nothing? Is this in my opinion misrepresentation on selling a product thats not fulfilled ?

The public paying for Unisons time off, then members paying a subs not to get the service! To you see where I'm coming from. Maybe Contact all those in the trust pilot for more details.

I read reviews and thought no they can’t be that bad, THEY ARE THAT BAD. I poured my heart out, sent evidence of a toxic workplace, safeguarding concerns and they did nothing. I went weeks without a reply and when he did reply it was the same thing ‘let’s go in, tell your manager what you think, shake hands and skip back to work on Monday’
It had gone too far for that.
Absolutely bloody waste of time and money.

I write as a former UNISON delegate and member of a Branch management team, with a warning.

Do not join this Trade Union.

In my mind, a trade union is supposed to represent its members, and provide a workplace service when its members need it. Instead, UNISON has put all of its resources into campaigning, instead of servicing its members.

As I write this review, almost 800 UNISON branches, with (approx.) 3 or 4 members of each branch on average are attending a National Conference, in which branches vote on motions, 95% of which are unanimously passed in some bizarre box-ticking exercise.

After some quick maths, I have worked out that the average branch spends between £2,000 - £3,000 alone on accommodation costs for its delegates, (of course, fancy hotels are a must). For 800 branches, that's £2.4 million on hotel costs alone.

Of members' money.

Throw expenses on top, (approx. £200 per delegate for the week), that's an extra (approx.) £500,000.

Of members' money.

That's just one conference. For one week. UNISON hosts dozens of conference each year.

The point I'm trying to make is that UNISON are charging its members an extraordinary amount of cash to essentially send a select few on all expenses paid networking events in major cities. All while ordinary members are screaming out for help in the workplace, that they are not receiving. Just look at the rest of the reviews on here for a taste of that.

UNISON has lost its way on an astronomical scale. If you're looking for representation in the workplace, don't bother. Save your money, and educate yourself on workplace practices and basic employment law.

Paid up member for 15yrs, sought support as a neurodivergant person due to loss of reasonable adjustments and subsequent burnout leading to loss of earnings, my job and psychological harm. I was dismissed by my rep, who stated 'reasonable adjustments are just that reasonable' which goes against their own guidance and the disabled act. I will be ending my membership

I am in the NHS and a member of UNISON since 2015.

Late last year I approached the union for help with a professional matter.

I have been treated in the most awful way. I am consistently ignored in communications. No one, despite who I contact, will reply to me.

I have lodged a complaint and that still has not even led to the most basic courtesy of a reply.

This organisation is shocking, and despicable in how it has interacted with me.

I am stunned at how unprofessional they are.

I will have to go to their UK head office now to escalate, but I have no confidence that will make any difference.

There should be a legal direction that they respond to paying members.

I want all my fees returned and backdated.

I will ensure everyone knows of my experience including MPs.

Extremely poor communication from the rep. Ignored phone calls and texts. Rushed correspondence to senior management last minute. Don't join.

I had asked for a union representative during a meeting with HR, the rep did not say one word, not once did she have anything to say or support me in any ways. I am very disappointed with the whole experience.
I tried calling afterwards to see if I could get some answers from her for her silence but was not able to get connected. I am concerned for the lack of support for a service that nurses are paying and to not receive any support.

It is extremely difficult to get hold of a representative. When I finally managed to make contact, I was directed to complete an 11-page form requesting extensive information. I was not looking for an interview or a lengthy assessment process—I simply wanted to speak to a human being, explain my issue, and receive support.
The process feels unnecessarily complicated and not user-friendly. For people seeking help, a more accessible and straightforward way to speak with someone directly would make a significant difference.
Rating-wise, this would fit

Entirely useless. You are literally paying for a service that won’t be provided. Give your money to the dogs home and save a bit to buy yourself a bar of choclit. It will get you much further than this utterly self-serving entity funded by misplaced trust.
How are they even still in business?

0 stars given there one up there because it has to be. Two serious falsely raised against me. The complexity of the joint cases are a lot. A month to prepare, a week after that and we’d started nothing, was learning myself, rep steps down hearing postponed. In limbo for another.. a week later I have someone.. a few days later, he steps down. 10 days before the hearing unison tell me there’s no one to represent me because there’s been no time for reps to review but they will send someone to SUPPORT me!!! I’ve needed to use them really in all the years I’ve been a paying member and when I really need them, they think it’s ok to be hostile to me? This is so unacceptable I’m a kind person, I help everyone, give people the shirt off my back and I am treated like I am a nobody because I’m not high up! I’ve also said that I personally think union members in their place of work is a conflict of interest. It’s quite clear they aren’t there for the people.. as soon as my case is done, so am I. I would never, ever not recommend someone just because of an experience so this should tell you just how bad it is. I was copied in with the regional manager and after she told me they’ve got nobody to represent, I sent a message to her, a kind one but she was instantly rude and dismissive even though I have inattentive adhd, autism, stress from being accused something I haven’t done LITERALLY! I’ve no clue what I am doing and HR clearly prey on this.. anyway. The hearing is going ahead without me as I have awful ear infection that they think I am faking even though it’s very common for me and even if I did go… guess what? I am paying for moral support! RCN ✅

I joined UNISON expecting independent, practical and timely support during a serious workplace situation. Unfortunately, my experience has been extremely disappointing.

I was dealing with a complex workplace matter involving deteriorating working relationships, exclusion from key communications, procedural concerns, formal allegations, governance issues and a significant impact on my wellbeing. I was not looking for special treatment. I was looking for clear advice, appropriate representation and support in ensuring that the employer followed a fair, balanced and transparent process.

That is not what I experienced.

At the point when I most needed support, I felt largely left to manage matters myself. The situation involved formal HR processes, Dignity at Work concerns, questions about procedural fairness and work-related stress. These are precisely the types of circumstances in which I expected a trade union to provide informed, proactive and independent support. Instead, I found the support limited, slow, unclear and insufficiently robust.

My main concern is that I did not experience the degree of independent challenge to the employer’s position that I had expected from my trade union. I did not feel that my concerns were properly gripped, tested or escalated with the seriousness they deserved. Nor did I feel there was sufficient scrutiny of whether HR and management were applying policies consistently, fairly and without unnecessary delay.

The workplace issues I raised were not minor. They involved concerns about communication, exclusion, consistency, procedural handling, the timing and disclosure of allegations and the effect on my health. I found myself having to prepare detailed documentation, pursue clarification and ensure that important aspects of the process were properly recorded and evidenced.

A member should not be left feeling isolated while navigating that kind of process.

I expected UNISON to provide meaningful assistance with strategy, representation, policy interpretation, correspondence and appropriate challenge. I expected my union to help ensure that my position was properly understood and that the employer’s account and decision-making were subject to appropriate scrutiny. Instead, I felt I received little meaningful protection at a time when the imbalance of power between employee and employer was already significant.

This experience has seriously damaged my confidence in UNISON. The gap between what I reasonably expected from trade union membership and the support I actually experienced was substantial. In my view, a union should be independent, responsive, technically competent and prepared to challenge unfair, inconsistent or unclear processes where appropriate. I did not feel that standard was met in my case.

Based on my experience, I cannot recommend UNISON to anyone facing a serious workplace dispute, grievance, disciplinary allegation, Dignity at Work concern or other HR-led process. When matters become difficult, members need clear advice, timely action and effective representation. I did not feel that UNISON provided this.

For anyone considering joining because they believe they will be supported if something goes wrong at work, I would suggest asking very specific questions before relying on that support:

What assistance will actually be provided?
Who will represent you?
How quickly will they respond?
Will they review relevant evidence and correspondence?
Will they challenge HR and management where appropriate? Will they? Or they in their pockets?
Will they support you throughout formal processes, or mainly provide general advice and signposting? AI has already made them redundant if that is all they can offer.

In my experience, the support fell far short of what I reasonably expected from a trade union. I felt unsupported and left to navigate a serious workplace process largely on my own.

That is why I am giving one star.

I am very disappointed with this union. They didn't support me when I had a problem. It was hard to get in touch. I wanted to cancel my membership so I had to fill the online form which I did. After a week not having anyone to contact me regarding that matter I have cancelled my direct debit. They were really quick to notice that and started to harras me with emails. I do not recommend them. Waste of money!

Completely agree with the other reviews. Had issues at work and they found a way to get out of supporting me.
Unisons lack of help hurt more than the discriminatory practice of the work place. Diabolical service. Should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. My complaint was also ignored.

Updated Review: Paying for protection, but left to fight aloneRating: ⭐☆☆☆☆I have paid my hard-earned money into UNISON for years, believing I had "insurance" for my career. When I was bullied and eventually physically assaulted by a senior staff member at UHB NHS, I found out the hard way that I was completely alone.Despite the assault, my rep ghosted me for a month. When I finally got through, I was met with laughter from a UNISON manager who seemed more interested in her cozy relationship with HR than my physical safety. I had to research the policies myself, file the grievance myself, and involve the police myself.The union did nothing but waste my time and give me false information about ACAS. If you think your subs are buying you protection, think again. In my experience, they take your money for years and leave you to drown when things get serious. An absolute waste of money

After paying thousands in membership fees I would advice an y prospective member not to bother. Invest thr money in legal insurance.

I tried for 6 months get get representation, only after a formal complaint they offered to help. Eventually got one meeting then thru refused legal support by this time it's 8 months since asking. Then ghosted for a further 2 months only responding after a further formal complaint and a subject access request. Unison Staff blamed there lack of support on being too busy.

This is a National Scandel stop paying now!!!!!!!

Waste of time. Signed up in hopes they would support me during a formal meeting which I wasn't made aware they don't. I wasted my time signing up and applying for something they can't support me with within my job.

They are unsupportive and in bed with management.. they do not fight your corner or even strongly represent you.. the advice from reps is pretty much to just accept the unfairness of everything as a norm.. they are paid full time reps but seem to want a quiet life and to just attend general meetings where they appear to be there more to support the organisation than to represent members.. and don’t voice your anger whatever you do as that upsets their sensitivities!!!! Useless chocolate teapots!!!!

Awful...staff were very apathetic, unhelpful and rude.
Not a service I would recommend

There has been a decline in quality.

My first union rep Ed was brilliant and when above and beyond, he’s now been promoted to a new role.

My new union rep I saw a start difference in quality. Now that I’ve exhausted the grievance and appeal process my union and union rep have said they’ll no longer offer me advice. Yet I am still off sick and being told by work I need to return to a team and manager who have bullied and excluded me.

At this stage unison are a waste of money and I have learnt enough about the grievance process that if I were to go through it again, I could do so myself.

The union are very risk avoidant so even the slightest chance you won’t win at tribunal (only 22% of cases do) then they won’t support you at tribunal. They also missed the key areas of my complaint.

Their advice was simply to find another job (in this economy?).

It also took over a month to get an advisor which is ridiculous and the first thing out their mouth, was to check if my salary had increased so the could increase my membership fee.

I was treated very poorly and unfairly by Unison. Rather than providing support, they sided with my employer, which further impacted my mental health. It took approximately a year for the complaint I then submitted to be addressed, during which time I was left without adequate support.

The individual involved did not take accountability for their behaviour. As there were no recordings of the phone conversations, the situation became one of my word against theirs, and my account was not given consideration.

Throughout the process, their approach was rude and dismissive. I was told that I should be grateful to have a job instead of raising legitimate concerns, which was inappropriate and undermining.

In addition, my employer breached a contract after I had already sought support from Unison regarding this issue, yet no effective assistance was provided.

Overall, this was an extremely disappointing experience, and I did not receive the support expected from a union. I would not recommend their services.