Unite the Union have increased the ‘low pay’ subscription threshold from £18,000 gross per annum to £21,500 with immediate effect.

If you pre-tax annual take home is £21,500 or less (even if you work less than 35 hours a week) you qualify to pay the lower subscription rate for Unite membership.

If you now qualify for the lower subscription rate please contact your local Unite the Union office membership department and they will talk you through the process of reducing your subs.

Professor Phil Taylor, University of Strathclyde is currently conducting some research on Working from home (WFH). He is asking office-based workers to complete a survey.

Professor Phil Taylor said: “As you know there is a big push for a Return to Work (RTW). Trade unions are clear – workers should not RTW until they have complete confidence that it is safe to do so. This survey will capture workers’ concerns regarding RTW. It will also gather crucial data on your experiences as unions develop bargaining agendas that represent members’ on a range of issues – health and safety, mental ill-health, pressure of work, work life balance etc. Many thanks in advance for your help with this vital research.”

You can access the survey here.

A campaign has been launched by Unite the Union and FairPensions JustPay! which aims to permanently embed Living Wage standards in the UK’s private sector, beginning with the biggest companies on the London Stock Exchange, namely the FTSE 100. The main focus at this time is the finance sector. The campaign has been launched in Lloyds TSB, but is relevant to the whole sector. The campaign aims to secure the support of major investors including pension funds and City fund managers as lead activist investors, as well as to mobilise the public. People don’t have to be a shareholder to get involved, employees are clearly important too. Together we hold billions of pounds through our bank accounts, ISA’s, pensions and even insurance policies. This gives us the power to positively influence some of the biggest companies in the world. We believe that activating the power of our organised money can literally change lives, helping to lift families out of working poverty.

Click here for further information and the online petition.

Unite members should have received (or be receiving*) ballot papers for the election of members of the new Unite Executive Council. As the union’s governing body we urge all of you to exercise your right to vote.

Normally Unite in AXA do not recommend specific candidates but to ensure that the insurance sector is represented on the new council and that the representatives for the finance sector do not just come from the banks, we recommend you cast two of your votes for Jim Kendall and Jane Lewis.

* if you have not received your ballot paper by Wednesday 6th April contact the ballot enquiy service on 0800 783 3856 or 0818 333 155 if you are in the Republic of Ireland.