I am a Care Worker/Employee

Terms and Conditions of Care Workers Trade Union Membership

Welcome to the Care Workers Union (CWU). By subscribing to membership, you agree to the following terms and conditions, which govern your relationship with CWU and outline the services, responsibilities, and procedures applicable to members.

1. Membership and Eligibility

1.1. Membership is open only to individuals who are care workers and support workers actively employed in the care industry.

1.2. To subscribe, members must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Provide two forms of ID (e.g., passport, driving license) and two proofs of address (e.g., utility bill, bank statement) as per the UK Government’s Proof of Identity Checklist.

1.3. Membership fees are calculated as 1% of the member’s average weekly salary annually. These fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.

1.4. Cancellation of membership requires a minimum of three months’ written notice submitted to admin@careworkersunion.org.

1.5. Representation Eligibility
To receive representation services from CWU, members must:

• Commit to a fixed five (5) year membership term.
• Pay their fees on an annual basis, in advance of each membership year.

1.6. Break Clause
A member may exercise a break clause at the end of the second membership year by giving three months’ written notice. Upon exercising the break clause, membership and eligibility for representation will terminate at the end of that notice period.

1.7. Change in Circumstances
Members experiencing a significant change in circumstances—such as loss of employment, long-term illness, or financial hardship—may submit a written request for review of their membership obligations. CWU will assess such requests on a case-by-case basis, and may offer a temporary suspension, payment reduction, or early termination of the membership term at its discretion.

1.8. Members must maintain active annual subscriptions to continue availing CWU services and benefits.

1.9. The union’s role in representing a care worker will terminate immediately upon the termination of that worker’s employment, unless the union agrees otherwise.

1.10. Representation of non-members is at CWU’s discretion, and applicable charges will apply as outlined in Section 3.

2. Services Provided

CWU offers the following professional support and representation services:

CWU offers the following professional support and representation services:

Initial Contact and Case Handling

• Summary of Issues: Members encountering workplace disputes must email a summary of their issue to admin@careworkersunion.org. The summary should include:
  • Employer’s name and contact details.
  • A timeline of events.
  • Any relevant supporting documents.
• Urgency: For urgent matters requiring action within five working days, mark the email subject line as “URGENT.”
• Response: A representative will contact the member within five working days to discuss the next steps.

Pre-Hearing Services

• Investigation Report Requests: Drafting letters to request reports from employers (£10 per request).
• Representation Letters: Drafting letters requesting hearing representation (£10 per letter).
• Hearing Preparation Conference: Comprehensive case review and preparation session (£50 per session).
• Witness Statement Drafting: Full drafting of witness statements (£150 per statement).
• Document Review and Argument Drafting: Professional review of documents and preparation of legal arguments (£40 per review).

Hearing Representation

• Representation Fee: £50 for the first hour; £150 for each additional hour.
• Minute Taking: Documentation of hearing proceedings at £50 for the first hour; £150 per additional hour.
• Minute Review and Feedback: Comprehensive review and feedback on hearing minutes (£40 per review).

Appeals Process

• Appeal Consultation: Strategy session for appeal preparation (£50 per session).
• Grounds of Appeal Drafting: Formal drafting of appeal grounds (£150 per draft).
• Witness Statement Drafting (Appeal): Tailored witness statements for appeals (£150 per statement).
• Appeal Hearing Representation Fee: £50 for the first hour; £150 for each additional hour.

3. Fees and Additional Costs

3.1. Document Handling:

• Preparation: £50 per hour for itemisation and organisation of case documents.
• Unitisation Fee: £0.20 per document for processing and categorisation.

3.2. Telephone Charges:

• Incoming Calls: £2 per minute.
• Outgoing Calls: £1 per minute.

3.3. Other Services:

• Document Submission: Members must submit clear, scanned, and arranged documents. Charges may apply if CWU arranges and prepares documents.
• Urgent Requests: Additional fees may apply for expedited services.

4. Member Responsibilities

4.1. Members are required to:

• Maintain an active annual membership.
• Cooperate fully with CWU representatives.
• Submit documents electronically and in an organised, legible format.
• Use email as the primary means of communication.
• Maintain insurance that includes employment-related legal cover.

4.2. Failure to meet these responsibilities may result in suspension or termination of membership and associated services.

5. Representation and Hearing Support

5.1. Only members with active, annual, and five-year term subscriptions are entitled to legal representation.

5.2. All relevant documentation must be submitted before hearing dates. CWU primarily provides remote representation. In-person support is available upon request and may incur additional travel and accommodation charges.

5.3. CWU will follow up after hearings to discuss outcomes and advise on appeal options.

6. Withdrawal and Cancellation

6.1. Members may cancel their membership by providing three months’ written notice to admin@careworkersunion.org.

6.2. If a member exercises the break clause after two years, the same notice must be provided, and membership will terminate at the end of the notice period.

6.3. Members requesting early termination due to changes in circumstances must provide evidence supporting their claim. CWU will respond within 14 working days.

6.4. Membership fees already paid are non-refundable, including in cases of cancellation.

7. Privacy and Data Protection

7.1. CWU complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Members’ personal data will only be processed for the purpose of providing CWU services and benefits.

7.2. Members’ personal data will not be shared with third parties without explicit consent unless required by law.

7.3. For inquiries or complaints regarding data privacy, members may email admin@careworkersunion.org.

8. Liability

8.1. CWU does not exclude liability for:

• Fraudulent acts or omissions.
• Death or personal injury caused by negligence.

8.2. CWU is not liable for:

• Losses that were not reasonably foreseeable at the time of the contract.
• Business-related losses incurred by members.

9. Dispute Resolution

9.1. The Parties shall attempt to resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement through negotiations between their appointed representatives who have the authority to settle such disputes.

9.2. If negotiations under Sub-Clause 9.1 do not resolve the matter within 14 days of receipt of a written invitation to negotiate, the parties will attempt to resolve the dispute in good faith through the agreed Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) procedure.

9.3. If the ADR procedure under Sub-Clause 9.2 does not resolve the matter within 14 days of the initiation of that procedure, or if either Party will not participate in the ADR procedure, the dispute shall be referred to the Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution at Cambridge Innovation Park by either Party for arbitration.

9.4. The seat of the arbitration under Sub-Clause 9.3 shall be England and Wales. The arbitration shall be governed by the Arbitration Act 1996 and Rules of the Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution. In the event that the Parties are unable to agree on the arbitrator(s), either Party may, upon giving written notice to the other Party, apply to the President or Deputy President of the Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution for the time being for the appointment of an arbitrator or arbitrators and for any decision on rules that may be required.

9.5. Nothing in this Clause 9 shall prohibit either Party or its affiliates from applying to a court for interim injunctive relief.

9.6. The Parties hereby agree that the decision and outcome of the final method of dispute resolution under this Clause 9 shall be final and binding on both Parties.

10. Changes to Terms

CWU reserves the right to update these terms and conditions. Members will be notified of any changes via email or the CWU website.

By subscribing to CWU, you acknowledge and agree to these terms and conditions.

For further assistance, contact admin@careworkersunion.org.