Unite the UnionReviews 

I initially reached out for advice and received a call a few days later. I attempted to return that call several times, but each time I was met with a message saying the call couldn’t be connected. I then emailed the advisor assigned to me, only to receive an out‑of‑office reply. I waited for her return and followed up again, but still received no response. I even raised a complaint, which was ignored.
When the advisor eventually contacted me, she asked whether I had reached out to the office during her absence. To avoid duplicating efforts, I explained that I hadn’t. She called days later and emailed, and we agreed that providing the advice by email would be the most efficient approach, especially as I had already supplied all the necessary information.
Despite this, I had to chase again, and the reply I finally received was abrupt and unnecessarily rude. In total, I waited 20 days, after repeatedly following up, before I was given anything at all. At this point, I’ve decided to cancel my membership.

Brilliant union. Helped workers in my office win a pay dispute and better conditions

Don't help you out, although I told them I got 7 days until meeting at work, but still nobody phones you back... Absolutely joke,, steer clear, they are quick enough to take your money, i would recommend UNISON UNION, they listen and help you more.

Not worth the money, in my experience. If you aren't feeling safe in your company and require extra support I would suggest you out some money into a high interest account and pay for a lawyer should you feel you need one. All of the Unite reps were supportive and helpful on first meeting, and then continued support and communication just dribbled away. When it came to the point where I really needed the legal backing they used a lawyer who could barely be bothered to speak to me and fighting on my behalf was non-existent.

As a Unite Union member employed at Jaguar Land Rover UK, I experienced serious discrimination and harassment from my manager. I raised the matter with Unite representatives within JLR on multiple occasions. Each time, I was met with reassurances but no meaningful action - in fact, rather than advocating on my behalf, they appeared to suppress my complaint against Manager before it could reach HR.

Receiving no genuine support from Unite, I was ultimately left with no choice but to contact ACAS directly to seek resolution.

Having gone through this experience, and having read similar accounts from other members, I would strongly advise anyone considering joining Unite to think carefully before doing so. In my case, the membership fees did not translate into the representation or protection I was entitled to expect.

DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY JOINING THIS UNION THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR YOU. If i could give zero stars i would. Never have i had dealing with such an exceptionally poor organisation. I had a grievance with my employer which I sought help with from the Union (been a member since 2018). Put a Phone call in and actually got a response from a Gareth Hughes fairly quickly and then it all went down hill from there. I tried to contact Gareth by phone and email numerous times and he didn't return any calls or e mails. I called the office at least 3 times seeking help and again nothing at all, completely ignored. I had to go to a professional HR person to get the advice i needed (had to pay for that of course). Put in a formal complaint and Sarah Davies Deputy Wales Secretary sent me a couple of disingenuous e mails and repeatedly told me this was not the service they aim to deliver, even told me Gareth Hughes was on holiday but we are talking about a timescale of several weeks here, so unless Unite give amazing holidays that was clearly a lie. Told me I couldn't claim the money that I had paid an HR consultant because i had gone outside the organisation for the advise - not sure she saw the irony in that statement. So enough of a rant, don't join seek out another Union this one is exceptionally poor.

Been paying for them for the last 2 years after being made redundant. Now i needed their help again they answer the phone just and when transferring to someone call went down after many minutes of music. Then called for a full day and only getting "They were to busy to answer my call" left voice message and website message, NO reply. called then using a new number and call as answered immediately and when transferred again the person who answer was shouting at me saying why i was calling again. I explained that i was not able to speak with anyone yet and person was very rude asking WHAT DO YOU WANT. WE DONT DO 1-1. Explained my situation and person shouted I WILL SEND YOU THE GUIDELINES (that i never received) and then if you have any question call be and we will reply in 2 days. This is not how you help someone in urgent need. paid for 2 years for literally NOTHING, no help. just rude people on the other side of the phone. Avoid at all cost. Now i can see why so many 1star review

Not a great experience at all & they are not bothered in the slightest when I complained, in fact they just ignored my emails.
I really don’t know what I have been paying for.
The Rep didn’t turn up to my Grievance meeting, phoned me an hour after the meeting to ask what time it was. I had emailed the day before to confirm he would be attending & phoned the morning of the meeting but was ignored. Luckily most of my grievance was upheld, apart from one part. The rep advised me to appeal & said they would attend the appeal. I emailed to confirm the date with them & was told the Regional office had decided I shouldn’t appeal & that he couldn’t attend. I emailed them to say that I had already appealed based on their rep’s recommendation but was ignored.
I have basically been left to deal with it all on my own, they have been no help at all.

I am really disappointed in Unite. I had a great rep, who unfortunately went off sick and after that it was like I didn't even exist.

I wasn't able to prebook calls with my interim rep, he would just call me in the middle of the day with terrible phone signal and then never text or answer the phone again.

I asked to raise several complaints, all of which just got passed to the same rep despite me asking for it to be escalated.

In the end, I was given no support in my workplace issue, didn't claim the compensation or tribunal I actually could've and found out far too late from an independent solicitor that what I could've got was substantially more than I got for myself without Unites help.

I am so angry they took SO much of my money for literally nothing and I seriously wouldn't recommend.

UNITE Don’t make me laugh !!
Replace the UN with SH and that would be a more accurate representation of this lot.
Been a member since 2007 and the first time i needed there support I was badly let down. They couldn’t even get my phone number and email right even after correcting them three times . I was left to seek advice from Acas instead as I was left with no choice.
They didn’t get back to me when I needed them even after three calls to there office . Finally got a call today after three weeks of waiting which was too late. I was left to deal with my workplace issue alone.

I write with a positive experience of the assistance that Unite the Union provided me during my recent dispute with my previous employer. Had it not been for the sound advice and support from Unite's Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe, the outcome of my dispute with my employer could have been very different. He guided and supported me through the grievance and litigation process, as well as attending hearings right through to the end, which took over 9 months, resulting in a settlement agreement. I am grateful that Unite the Union was there for me and supported me when I needed them.

If I could give no stars I would- made payments for over a year asked for support didn’t get it but apparently I am only allowed 6 months payments back and I should be great full 🙈
Find a union that shows up for you not one that takes your money

I have been a union member for quite some time and I must say every time I have an issue it’s an awful experience both getting in contact with them and also speaking to their representatives.

They are rude beyond belief, they talk to you like you are the village idiot that should already know the things you are calling them for and they give you the upmost disgusting attitude you can ever experience in a customer service basis job, especially considering this one where legal advice is required in situations where the customer is most likely distressed already.
I just got off the phone with them, and I wish I had gotten their name to put it in this review, but unfortunately I didn’t. All I know is he was speaking to me like I was a dog and raised their voice with me throughout the call.

Honestly not worth even getting their advice for free if this how they treat you when you seek their help.

Dreadful, years of trying to resolve a job description in Glasgow, ignoring emails in the end up. Awful, its clear that some unions are more interested in keeping the management happy.

Being able to contact them directly. I had a membership issue, Mariuz helped sort it out quickly and promptly.

Updated my membership via a nice chap called "Mariusz" after becoming unemployed to a much lower rate so i could carry on my membership, Mariusz was very helpful and professional in the advice he gave me, been in the union for years so wanted to carry it on.

I have been in the union for over 20yrs and I have never known unite union to be as bad as they are I stopped paying my dues now and have gone to another union. Unite area reps are a waste of time never answer their phone and as a union I would not trust again alot of lies and their shop stewards at depot level don't get me started on them all they are are biscuit dunkers never bring anything to the table for the union members.

The Union are very loth to act, even though you may have strong evidence that would stand up in a criminal court case, not a work place dispute.The result is that employers view this union as toothless dog with no bark, with total contempt. And who can blame them!
The union seem more concerned with addressing diversity in the work place than the concerns of members over exercising their right of free speech.
Are the unions forgetting their core membership may not share this present narrative?
Sure a protective characteristic is free speech in a democracy?

worst union ever 3rd year no wage rise for lowest paid employees but every year highest paid employees have had a wage rise ive went from being £1.60 over minimum wage to a minimum wage employee in a major physical jobs unite only seek to get the majority a pay deal and dont give a f about the minority but take there dues all the same try to get intouch using the enquiry thing on there site still no reply proper joke of a union there set up in a building in edinburgh that probs cost a couple million same in Newcastle I can see where there priority lie and its not with those hovering over the poverty line

This was my response from Unite after paying 20 yrs of fees. Doesn’t feel like a response from an organisation set up to help workers reform.

Good Afternoon,

We are unable to find an active Unite membership on our system for you. We have a closed membership on record, for which the last payment received was June 2023, so we are unable to provide you with a membership number.

If you started a new membership with us after June 2023, please let us know what payment method you are using to pay your subs, and we can try and locate a membership number.

For your information, we longer use Unite Wills for our Free Will service for our members.

Best regards,