To cancel my union membership while on mat leave

[thelastoftheherriots]

Just that really. I'm in an nhs admin role, due to go on maternity leave in a couple of weeks for 12 months. I'm looking at where I can cut back my expenses whilst on lower mat pay.

I've attempted to use the union once for advice in my years of membership (a management bullying issue) a few years ago and they we're as much use as a chocolate fireguard, uninterested and unresponsive etc. I accept its probably luck of the draw based on who your rep is - things might have changed since then.

I'm hoping to submit a flexible working request to go part time after my leave, so I'm not sure if I might need them for that or if anyone has any experience of needing a union whilst on maternity leave or afterwards as a working parent.

YABU - Stay in the union, you might need them/they were useful to me.

YANBU - Leave and save on the monthly payments for a while, you're unlikely to need them whilst off.

I'm not in my union, but I would've thought this is the point of your career that you're most likely to need them (sadly).

The union is there to support you. Returning to work after may leave is often a time when new mums can get the shitty end of the stick by management and your union will be able to help if that happens to you. But if you're not a member, they won't.

I think You can pay a reduced rate if you're on Mat leave?

I wouldn’t cancel. This is the point when you are most likely to need them sadly

Most unions let you pay a reduced rate while on leave. I would keep them, it's not uncommon for women to have issues when returning from mat leave.

This 100%

My union waived fees when you're on mat leave - might be worth checking?

You're at most risk of discrimination when you're on mat leave and returning to work. I would keep it if you possibly can afford it.

I went through a redundancy process while I was on mat leave. It was horrible stressful finding out when my baby was 9 months that I might not have a job to go back to at the end of the year. Thankfully I was retained, but one of my NCT group was made redundant in very dubious circumstances.

If you cancel they won't act for you until
A set period of time after you rejoin.

Check and see if they had a reduced rate you can switch to on Mat leave.

Which union are you in?

I know RCM waive fees during mat leave - probably worth checking for yours

Thanks everyone, fairly unanimous.

I'm in unison, I just checked and they waive fees for any unpaid maternity leave, so the last 3 months. But I have to inform them ahead of time so I'm glad I checked! 😊