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Help

Getting help

26 October 2006

UCU negotiates members' pay and conditions both nationally and locally, and campaigns on a whole range of issues including education funding, privatisation and pensions. And we offer members advice on equality, health & safety, pensions, planning for retirement, part-time working and professional issues.

But it's often the case that members find themselves calling on UCU when they run into a problem that affects them as individuals. Problems like these can arise in any number of ways. And one of the main benefits of belonging to UCU is that, if a difficult situation arises, we can help by giving advice, support and representation.

And as well as offering support to members on work related issues, we also offer non-work related services including wills, lasting power of attorney, renunciation of executorship, probate, severance of joint tenancy, buying a newly built home, conveyancing, re-mortgaging and financial mis-selling claims such as payment protection insurance (PPI).

If you have a problem and need your union's help, your first step should always be to contact your local branch.

Our dealing with problems page offers some basic advice on resolving problems at work. Please be aware that time limits can apply, so please don't delay if you need to raise an issue.

UCU support centre : This link opens in a new window

UCU Law Extra : This link opens in a new window

Education Support Partnership

UCU generally tries to resolve members' problems through negotiation, usually at a local level.

If you need help with a matter relating to your employment (for example, to a specific provision of your contract - salary, teaching hours, holidays etc; or to your work but not to a specific provision of your contract - for example, bullying or harassment), you should always, in the first instance, contact the secretary of your workplace branch, who receives regular briefings on key employment and educational issues, or another officer/representative. They will know about the agreements and contracts that apply in your workplace, and the branch may have specialist officers dealing with areas such as equality or pensions. 

If you are not sure who your branch secretary is, or the threat is urgent and you cannot contact your branch please contact your regional UCU office directly. You can find out where your regional office is, and who you should contact, by using our branch/LA listing.

If your branch cannot resolve the problem through local negotiation and needs assistance handling the matter, it will approach appropriate officials at UCU head office or the appropriate regional office.

Help with other problems

Last updated: 10 February 2021