Representation

What is it?

Community has well trained, extremely knowledgeable, workplace representatives that are elected from your workplace. Workplace reps work alongside you and are the absolute experts at what’s going on in your workplace, because they work there to! Community also has full time officers based nation wide who have years of experience representing members in both grievances and disciplinaries. Also members will receive full representational and legal backing within investigations with the industry regulated body.

How to get it…

Any member can get representation by contacting their local workplace representative or a full time officer at their Community regional office.

 

Legal Advice

What is it?

All members can get free legal advice from solicitors on workplace or personal injury claims for both themselves and close family members. This gives our members an excellent service, peace of mind and protects members from no win no fee solicitors. Our solicitors have won millions in compensation for our members.
How to get it…..

Members can request a legal help request form from their local office. All they need to do is complete the form stating the particulars of the assistance needed and return to the address stated on the form. If any member requires any help with completing the form they should contact their local office.

 

Training & Education

What is it?

Community offers members a wide range of free education and training through our experts at Communitas. Communitas supports members to retrain in redundancy situations but offer much more than that. Members can access a wide variety of training that will give them transferable skills or vocational qualifications. This enables members to develop in their current role and increase their employability which empowers them to make changes to their own working life. There is no need to worry if you haven’t attended training for a while or if you have learning needs or a disability as all support is tailored to individual needs. Communitas gave 100,000 hours of training to our members. 90% of members in redundancy situations were able to get back into work after being up skilled.

How to get it…..

Members can access training either through their local organiser or through their local office. Details of courses available are also available through local offices.

 

Working conditions

What is it?

Where we have recognition, Community continually negotiates to improve on terms, conditions and pay for thousands of its members. Collective bargaining allows members to have a collective voice on issues that concern them at work.

How to get it…..

This is ongoing and collective bargaining goes on all year round with workplace representatives and full time officers speaking to employers and constantly negotiating and improving our members terms and conditions.

 

Service Centre

What is it?

The service centre will be open to all members for advice and guidance on issues such as health and safety, employment rights and terms and conditions whenever they need it. This will give members a vital service with easy access to everything they need to know.

How to access it…..

Opening in 2008, the Member's Service Centre will provide all members with advice and guidance. The service centre will have a freephone number which will be distributed to all members as soon as it is available.

 

Campaigning

What is it?

We campaign hard in workplace and political arenas to deliver things that are important to our members. Community played a huge part in introducing and increasing the minimum wage year on year and the introduction of additional statutory holidays.

How to help….

Campaigning often does not just include full time officers, members can assist in our campaigns, after all the members are the union, some of our recent campaigns have included improving safety in betting shops and taking the UK government to the EU court following the collapse of an employer pension scheme ensuring the introduction of the pension protection fund. Also Community has campaigned tirelessly on behalf of its members with disabilities and they are represented at all levels of the union.

 

Benevolent fund

What is it?

From 1st January 2008 a new benevolent fund will be available for members in genuine financial hardship all applications to the fund will be considered and Community will then assist with a financial grant that will assist member in their time of need.
How do I get it?

Members can apply to the fund in writing, via their branch secretary who will also need to indicate the branch support for the application. For more information please contact your local regional office.

 

Child Benefit

What is it?

Community believes that our member’s children are the future of our union which is why we are launching the new Child Benefit Scheme. Members will receive a £50 ‘baby bonus’ after the birth or adoption of a child, and it is our intention that at key stages of the child’s life member parents will receive gifts and vouchers for items such as school uniforms, books and equipment .

At 16 the child will receive a membership application form and access to advice and guidance relating to work and education. The Child Benefit Scheme will be active from 1 January 2008 but member parents of all children born on or after 1 July 2004 will be eligible for the ‘baby bonus’. To celebrate the birthday of Community as a new union member parents of children born on 1 July 2004 will receive an additional £50!

How to get it….

This benefit is payable to any member upon the birth or adoption of child of which they are a parent, providing they have held membership for at least 12 months prior to the child’s birth. If both parents are members then both can claim. Members should fill out the Child Benefit form available through your Branch Secretary, Regional Office or the Website. Any claim must be accompanied by a copy of the Birth Certificate which must contain the name of at least one member as either the father or mother.

 

Bereavement Benefit

What is it?

The Bereavement Benefit is an accrued benefit designed to assist your next of kin at that difficult time. Members will accrue £200 per annum for the first 5 years of membership, and £10 per annum thereafter (a total of £1100 after 15 years membership and £1200 after 25 years membership) until retirement. At retirement the benefit is capped and remains available for as long as membership is continued as a non working member. Unfortunately if the member chooses not to remain a retired member of the union, the benefit is lost.

If a member has accrued a Bereavement benefit and becomes unemployed, they retain their capped benefit if they remain a non-working member. When they return to work, they will continue to accrue their bereavement benefits. This enhanced benefit will be active from 1 January 2008 and will be backdated and applicable to all members.
How to get it….

Application forms are available from your Branch Secretary, Regional Office or the Website. Completed application forms must be accompanied by a copy of the death certificate.

 

Convalescence Benefit

What is it?

The Convalescence Benefit exists to provide members who have experienced serious illness or industrial injury with 2 weeks of rest and recuperation at the Railway Convalescent Home in Dawlish, Devon. Members can recover amongst the beautiful surroundings at Bridge House, with full board and all expenses paid.
How to get it….

Applications forms are available through your Branch Secretary or Regional Office and further information is available on the Website. Applications for Convalescence benefit must be signed off by a doctor.

 

Strike & Lockout Benefit

What is it?

Community will ensure you do not experience financial hardship by continuing to support you when you need the backing of your union the most.

How to get it….

Branch Secretaries or Regional Offices apply directly to the General Secretary.

 

Other Benefits

Community provides access to a range of offers and discounts through partner organisations. Details and updates are provided in the Community magazine.

Community is fully committed to supporting the valuable voluntary work that our members do in their communities. Branches can apply in writing to their Regional Office for grants to support their activities and initiatives. If you are involved with a charity or community group that you think could benefit from your union’s support then please get in touch – Community wants to help