Accord is an independent trade union; affiliated to the TUC and the Scottish TUC.

Accord’s General Secretary, Ged Nichols

We’re a specialist union for staff in financial services. We have members in the Lloyds Banking Group, TSB, MBNA, Equitable Life and Sainsbury’s Bank.

Accord is funded only by members’ subscriptions and is not affiliated to any political party.

The union has a positive approach to industrial relations. It regards itself as a progressive partner in good times and bad and recognises that an employer can only meet the union’s agenda for security of employment, fair reward and dignity at work if the business is able to survive and succeed.

Accord isn’t a union that goes around shouting and stamping its feet — it’s a union for people who know the value of good business relationships when defending employees’ rights but are not afraid to speak out.

Sometimes this means standing up for members when management gets it wrong, sometimes it means working together to give members the best opportunities to develop and succeed for themselves and for their business. This is what a grown-up trade union does. This is what Accord does.

Accord was resilient through the difficult period caused by the financial crisis of 2008 and our progressive approach is now really starting to deliver positive results for members through engagement and negotiation.

The Union is based near Reading and employs staff throughout the UK who focus on helping members to resolve any problems they have at work and engaging with business leaders.

It is governed by an 18 member Principal Executive Council (PEC). All PEC members are employed by businesses the union negotiates with and are directly elected by Accord members.

The union encourages members to elect workplace representatives. The representatives meet with the union’s senior officials and senior business leaders usually twice per year.

Accord is committed to equality and diversity and actively opposes all forms of harassment, prejudice and unfair discrimination whether on the grounds of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, colour, class, caring responsibilities, marital status, sexuality, disability, age, or other status or personal characteristic.

Originally published at accord-myunion.org.