Essential Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
I've got a problem at work - where can I go for advice?
If you are a PAWUSA member, contact your local PAWUSA steward or health and safety rep as soon as possible. If you don't know who your local PAWUSA rep is or aren't sure who to contact, ring our hotline (have your membership number ready):
PAWUSA direct 021 4242055 (calls charged at local rates)
Share call 0860 109 426
Lines are open 8am-4pm Monday-Friday
You can also submit a query online at: Help
I want to change some of my personal details - how do I do that?
Go to: Help There you'll find online forms for:
- Change of details
- New membership card
- Retirement
- Deceased member
In the event that you feel that you have not received the standard of service you expect from PAWUSA.
This procedure is intended to ensure:
- Anyone wishing to make a complaint knows how to do so.
- The union responds to the complaint quickly and in a courteous and efficient way.
- The union learns from complaints and where complaints are found to be justified, takes appropriate measures.
- Members' complaints are taken seriously and properly dealt with.
How do I download PDF files?
When you go to read a PDF document, you have two options.
If you just click once on the link, the PDF file will open within your web browser (usually Internet Explorer). You can then read it as normal. But note that large files (bigger than 500k) may take a few minutes to open in your window.
However, you may prefer to save the PDF onto your hard drive to read at a later date or forward to a colleague.
Sometimes a PDF will open but only a blank page is visible. This may be because the view is zoomed into a blank section of the document. Use the dropdown view menu (bottom left hand corner of the screen) to select a suitable view - 100% or 'Fit Width' are usually best.
Especially useful is the Find Tool (a pair of binoculars) - click on the Find icon to search the document for a word or phrase. Click the next icon to the right to search for further occurences of the word or phrase.
PDF accessibility: To read PDFs with a screen reader please link to the Access Adobe website which provides useful tools and resources. Adobe also has a free online conversion tool for PDFs.
I have a comment about this website and want to email your webmaster.
Please email: email our information system officer at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
with your query.
Please restrict your emails to questions about this website such as navigation, documents, downloads etc.
All other queries about PAWUSA, your workplace, your membership details etc should be directed through the channels listed above.
I am in a local branch/region and want to get a news story about a recent success story onto our website or notice of meeting - who do I contact?
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the information you want to share and contact information.
What we campaign on
PAWUSA campaigns and lobbies on key issues affecting our members and the public at large. We're working to protect and improve the public services, win equal pay and employment rights for everyone, improve safety in the workplace and end discrimination and harassment at work. We also support external campaigns on issues such as fuel poverty and fair trade.
To find out more go to: Campaigns
Local organisation
Every member of PAWUSA belongs to a local branch, which is made up of people working for the same employer. Local stewards are there to represent you at work and help find the answers to your problems.
To find out more go to: Get Active
Getting your voice heard
PAWUSA has a clear structure to make sure all members can have their say. The union is divided into 13 regions, each with its own regional council made up of delegates elected from branches in the area.
The governing body of PAWUSA is the annual National Delegate Conference. The union's policy is decided by delegates elected from branches, regions and self-organised groups. Policies decided at conference are carried out by the National Executive Council (NEC), elected from the regions and service groups.
To find out more go to: About us
For news about forthcoming conferences, workshops, training days and other events go to: Coming events
Women in PAWUSA
Women make up two thirds of PAWUSA's members so we make sure their voices are heard throughout the union. At every level of the union, when people are elected to committees or delegations women must be elected in fair proportion to their membership.
Essential Information and FAQ