Whether voluntary or compulsory, being made redundant is a massive change and a point at which learning and skills become key. If you and your colleagues are facing a redundancy situation, your union is here to help.
Your Workplace Rights
UNISON is fighting to Save Our Services across Wales, but we know that in many places cuts to local government budgets handed down from Westminster are hitting jobs across the country.
If you are a UNISON member and are concerned about a potential or ongoing redundancy situation in your workplace you should contact your branch for more information.
You can learn more about your rights and the process of redundancy, and download important guidance documents, on the UNISON Get Help webpages and from UNISON .
Download our Facing redundancy in Local Government guide
ReACT+ Welsh Government Support
Our partners at Working Wales run the Welsh Government’s ReAct+ redundancy support scheme, which offers training grants to anyone over the age of 20 who has a formal notice of redundancy or has been made redundant in the last 6 months.
This is a unique scheme for residents of Wales with the right to live and work in the UK. Full eligibility criteria and grant details are available on the Working Wales website.
Redundancy Support Sessions
The UNISON Cymru Wales Learning team can support your branch to run a dedicated session in person or online for you and your colleagues to help you through the process. It might include:
- An update on the situation from your branch representatives
- Information from your employer’s HR department about the redundancy process
- Advice and guidance from Working Wales – including how to access ReAct+ funding and information on career opportunities locallly
- Meet your local learning providers – including FE colleges and Adult Learning Wales
- Sign up for Sessions – Job Search, CV writing, Interview Skills and Confidence Building workshops funded by our Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) project
- Speak with UNISON Learning Organisers and your local Union Learning Rep about the UNISON College
- Sign-up for Unemployed Member status
If you would like your branch to run a face-to-face or webinar session with the support of the UNISON Cymru Wales learning team, please get in touch with your local rep or contact us directly.
Unemployed Member Status
If you are made redundant from work, you don’t have to lose your connection to your trade union and the collective support of your fellow members.
Members dismissed, made redundant, having accepted a compromise agreement or having resigned as an alternative to dismissal from employment, can apply for unemployed membership of UNISON within six months of their loss of employment, for two years from the date of dismissal, redundancy, agreement or resignation.
Unemployed member status will give you access to ongoing support and representation from your union, and member benefits including the learning opportunities available from UNISON College.
To become an Unemployed Member, you need to notify your branch in writing within 6 months of your loss of employment.
£4 per year for a maximum of 2 years
Guidance for ULRs
The UNISON Cymru Wales Learning Team have produced a guidance document for Union Learning Representatives to help activists to support members through this most challenging of times.
Download our Redundancy Support – Guide for ULRs in Wales