Usdaw Union Reviews 

It’s good to see all the top people on a jolly up in Blackpool it’s a shame they didn’t spend a bit more time on our pay rise and Sunday premium and they don’t seem a bit embarrassed

Asked for a rep for a investigation and was told they don't attend investigations as that is just someone finding out facts. Now my mental health isn't the best I expected more from a service that claims to help there members. They only step in at the last minute and even then they are terrible. Bad advice, feel let down and fobbed off by them. My store has no rep as nobody wants represent the union in store so I also have zero access to a local rep. Terrible union. Don't join. Lovely members on the phone but that's about it. They don't want to actually do anything when it comes to sending a rep to my area. It's a major inconvenience it seems.

Met Alex and Dominic at work, great people who are passionate about their job.

Called for help main office was nice and friendly and let me know that my local rep would give me a call later on. From the second the call started he was agitated giving me little time to locate pictures, screenshots and emails. I had saved causing me to miss information or him to misunderstand. He then accused me of lying and began interrogating me. I called for help against my company. I would rather of had help from my company against them.

Dont join, no use. Had a job, applied for transfer, local manager played games with application. Contacted union, someone called back, said they would speak to someone and get back to me. Nothing. Clear examples of manager at local store playing loose with rules, and effectively barring me from any position, proof not looked at, I've been ignored, probably because I can't afford next month's fees. Save your money, or better yet, get private legal insurance.

Questioned why I had joined after I requested a union rep for an investigation meeting. I asked for a specific rep due to the close relationship our I store rep has with the leadership team. I was refused this rep and was told it’s only an investigation meeting you’ll only be asked questions. Waste of time joining and no help whatsoever. Nick Gerrard area organiser really lets the company down. Will be cancelling my membership as these are no help in a crisis.

This "company" contacted me out of the blue claiming my contributions had stopped on retirement and supplied a direct debit form with no indication of payment costs. I have never had anything to do with them and it smells like a scam

This horrible union is the only union that gets you a small pay increase but always allows management to take something back in return, nearly all shopworkers get single pay for every day of the week, usdaw has sold workers out when it comes to weekend pay, they are a terrible union.

Specifically reached out to them, with an interest in becoming a member, having found (on there website) that they have had dealings with my employer. 1st I called them only to be dismissed quickly stating they could not support the work sector I occupy even after quoting there website artical. And 2nd I emailed a general query with a screen shot of the artical mentioning my employer and asking 'I'm thinkin of joining and I'd like to talk to someone about it' only to be responded with hyperlinks to the website stating 'you can join here' and you can read this here etc

The screen shot clearly shows I've already been on the website. And the push to get me to join after askin to talk to someone is just disgusting.

This was the 1st Union I've reached out too after doin some research. I do hope this isn't a prelude of things to come with others

Completely useless i was invited to attendance meeting i though they will be my representative and they said to call a different manager while I'm at a dispute within the management ... I'm cancelling the subscription straight way

No use whatsoever during my membership & then a nightmare to cancel. I continued to receive promo emails so contacted via the email address given on the website for customer service, only to discover that this was of no use either.

I joined Usdaw Union last year, which at the time, under a different representative, I felt my representative couldn’t do anymore for me than what she was already doing spot on with excellent support. Unfortunately, my old representative changed to a different area, & I got a new representative. At first, I got the level of support I needed, in time that just faded away sadly. I never felt so alone with very little support at the end, that’s when I decided to cancel my membership.

Lawyer couldn't be bothered calling me. Genuinely received more support from my employer than from them. They are a useless company. Especially in Edinburgh where you wont even get a call. Ive met my local “representative” and his cheap baggy suit was a great representation of him as a lawyer/representative.

An ineffective union who hires members that actually cause problems by challenging outside of their job purview.

Lost my job after one of their representatives challenged me on a policy that wasn't in place yet and insisted on me following it, refused to take no for an answer and after them saying "Who the f*** do you think you're talking to?", had a verbal outburst which resulted in me losing my job and them getting a promotion weeks later.

Absolute joke of a union that couldn't even defend a 5 year career of perfect conduct after 1 outburst.

Company is useless just taking everyone's money. I ended up losing my job and never got hired back. The rep I assume when you call the office gives you a ring back only cared about the onsite reps when they did ABSOLUTELY nothing about the situation. Useless people don't ever consider them.

The onsite union rep was also apart of management makes 0 sense.

I'm not a member of USDAW so this is a bit of a curved ball review. I had to gather my personal information apropos a third party complaint about their Scottish head, Tracy Gilbert, now Tracy Gilbert MP. She had maliciously lied to Scottish Labour about me, doing so on USDAW letterhead no less, bit weird I am not a member!!! She didn't follow policy /procedure, she doesn't!! Her bad faith complaint wasn't upheld, it was a lie. But the reason I am now writing here is an allegation about head of legal services Darren Miller has been made. My lived experience is totally different, Mr Miller played with a straight bat during my correspondence with him. There are always 2 sides to every story. USDAW's trust rating is in the pits though!!

All round good experience, they returned all my calls, a rep came to my disaplinary and his support was great, outcome was great, couldn't fault them.

They are very quick at taking your money over the years yet they are Very slow at giving the right support when needed during any disciplinary hearing at the workplace they don’t even write a letter or help you write a letter to the employer, Method of communication is poor all that they worried about is your monthly membership still being paid on time. Darren Miller the Head of Legal Services at the union is the most useless person you can ever reach out to, They do avoid Confrontation, they will only contact you via email. Nobody will ever talk to you.
In a simple nutshell no point in joining this trading union it’s a waste of time and money.

Telling workers to accept ridiculously low pay offer, as they are too spineless to fight for decent pay

I’ve never joined a union before, I’m young and didn’t know they cost money per month. The union officer got me to fill out the card and give it back to him where he then put it hidden away in his folder. He then told me “not everything in this world is free”. I told him I didn’t want to be apart of the union as I needed this money for university. He was still in my store throughout my shift and I reminded him multiple times that I didn’t want to be apart of the union. I even let my manager know and she could tell I was visible upset and also spoke to him about it.

It turns out he proceeded my form even though I reminded him so many times that I didn’t want to be apart of the union! I assume he makes some type of commission off each applicant.

They’ve been taken payments for months without me realising as I don’t regularly check my payslip. Over £50 this year so far.