FSU Membership Agreement

Account means the account nominated on your Membership Application, whether a credit or debit account or howsoever named, from which we are authorised to arrange for your Union fees to be deducted from or charged to.

Agreement means the Finance Sector Union of Australia Membership Agreement, as amended from time to time, which incorporates your Membership Application made either online, over the phone, electronic form, or hardcopy form.

Financial Institution means the institution noted on your Membership Application Form where you hold the Account.

FSU means the Finance Sector Union of Australia.

PRD means Payroll Deduction

Membership application means an application to become a Finance Sector Union completed by you in hardcopy, online or over the phone.

Union/We/Our means the Finance Sector Union

You, Your means the person who applies to be a member of the Finance Sector Union.

Upon acceptance of your application to join the Union, you agreed to abide by the Union’s Rules.  Please note that a breach of the rules can constitute grounds for misconduct. A finding of misconduct can result in expulsion from the Union.

Eligible members in New South Wales and Queensland by their application to join the Finance Sector Union also become members of respectively Finance Sector Union New South Wales Branch, or Finance Sector Union of Australia, Queensland Branch, Industrial Union of Employees. This includes any change in name to any of the aforementioned entities, howsoever referred to in our Membership Forms or in this Agreement.

Resignation from membership from the FSU will be treated administratively as resignation of your respective State Union (if any).

Despite the Union’s belief that all finance sector workers should be members, there are finance sector workers who choose not to join the union, or seek to join only when they require assistance. The Union has developed its Pre-existing Industrial Issues Policy to deal with the range of situations that occur when non-members or members who have joined with existing industrial issues approach the union seeking assistance.

Non-members must join or become financial before the union will consider assisting them with an issue. When a member has joined the union with an existing industrial issue they shall normally receive no representation in relation to that issue only. The member will be entitled to access all union benefits in relation to all other matters or circumstances. The only exceptions to this provision are detailed below.

The Union acknowledges that there may be occasions where the union will decide to assist a member who has joined with an existing industrial issue. In such cases the decision as to whether to represent the member shall be at the discretion of the FSU. Where the FSU determines that the member shall receive union representation and/or support then in most cases a service fee will apply, usually equivalent to 6 months or 12 months of the relevant FSU membership subscription fee.

In accordance with the rules of the Finance Sector Union, the National Executive determines the annual membership subscription rate and may, from time to time, require members to pay a levy or levies.

On receipt of your Membership Application, which includes your payment request, the Union will commence deductions on, as soon as possible after your membership form has been processed. By submitting your signed Membership Application, you acknowledge and authorise:

a) that you have been informed of your fee amount;

b) that the Union will continue to debit from the nominated account or credit card at the frequency selected;

c) that the Union’s fees may be revised at the beginning of each financial year. If there are any changes to the Union’s fees, we will advise you of this on the Union’s website and/or via email;

d) the Union to verify the details of the Account with your Financial Institution, if required; and

e) the Financial Institution to release information allowing the Union to verify the above mentioned Account details.


Your Commitments

It is your responsibility to ensure that:

• your nominated account can accept direct debits (your financial institution can confirm this);
• there is sufficient cleared funds in your nominated account on the drawing date as your financial institution may charge both yourself and the Union a dishonour fee if there are insufficient funds;

• you advise us if the nominated account is transferred or closed; and
• you advise us if you wish to resign, or have left the finance industry at membership@fsunion.org.au

A payment failure(s) may affect the status of your membership.

If your payment is rejected by the Financial Institution for any reason, the Union may contact you by SMS, phone or by email and may attempt to recover the missed payment.


Enquiries

For all matters relating to your unions fees, including cancellation, alteration, payment waiver, or to stop or defer a payment, or to query or dispute a previous payment, please contact us to discuss (membership@fsunion.org.au;  1300 366 378). Please allow 14 days for any requested changes to take effect or for our response to any query or dispute.

If you have been incorrectly debited, we will arrange for either your Account to be credited or your ‘paid to’ date to be adjusted. If we reasonably believe you have been correctly debited we will inform you of such and provide with any relevant documents. You may refer the matter to your Financial Institution if we cannot resolve the matter.


Disputes

If you believe that a drawing has been initiated incorrectly, we encourage you to take the matter up directly with us by contacting FSU on 1300 366 378 or by email: membership@ fsunion.org.au.

If you do not receive a satisfactory response from us to your dispute, contact your financial institution which will respond to you with an answer to your claim:

• within 7 business days (for claims lodged within 12 months of the disputed drawing); OR
• within 30 business days (for claims lodged more than 12 months after the disputed drawing).

You will receive a refund of the drawing amount if we cannot substantiate the reason for the drawing.

(For Members on Payroll Deduction arrangements prior to 1 July 2023)

On receipt of your signed Membership Application, and completed PRD Request, the Union notify your employer and deductions will commence on, or as soon as possible after, your first pay period after your employer has been notified.

By submitting your signed Membership Application, you acknowledge that you have been informed of your fee amount. The Union’s fees may be revised from time to time. If there are any changes to the Union’s fees, we will advise you of this on the Union’s website and/or via email. We will also notify your employer of any change to your fees and your employer will implement through your payroll deduction arrangement.

By submitting your signed Membership Application, you authorise the Union to discuss your PRD payment terms and to verify your identify, if required, with your employer. The Union will endeavour to contact you if your PRD cannot be processed for any reason. If we are unable to reach you and/or you do not contact us to discuss your payment with you, this may affect the status of your membership.

For all matters relating to your payment request, including cancellation, alteration, payment waiver, or to stop or defer a payment, or to query or dispute a previous payment, please contact us to discuss (membership@fsunion.org.au; 1300 366 378). Please allow 14 days for any requested changes to take effect or for our response to any query or dispute. If you believe you have been incorrectly debited, we recommend that you speak with your employer.

Resignation from the union is governed by the Union Rules, which you agreed to abide by upon your application to join the union. The following sets out the practical information you may need in order to resign your membership.

You have the obligation to resign your membership should you no longer wish to remain a member or where you are no longer eligible for membership. The union has no obligation to verify your continued intention to remain a member. Your continued payment of union fees will be taken as evidence of your intention to remain a member and your eligibility to do so. If you are paying your union fees by payroll deduction, it is your responsibility to notify your employer and to request that it cease its payroll deduction of your fees. The Union will not do so on your behalf.

You must notify the Union as soon as you are no longer eligible to remain a member. This will occur where you are no longer employed in an industry or occupation covered by the union and are not looking for a job in one of the union’s areas of coverage. If you are unsure whether we continue to be the right union for you upon a job change, please contact our Membership Centre: membership@fsunion.org.au; 1300 366 378.

If at any time you wish to resign from the Union, including where you are eligible to remain a member or where you have left the union’s areas of coverage, you must do so in writing.

Written notice of resignation from the Union takes effect: 

1. Where the member ceases to be eligible to become a member of the Union on the later of:
   1. the day the written notice is received by the Union; or
   2. the day specified in the notice provided it is not earlier than the day when the member ceases to be eligible to be a member; or 
2. In any other case, the later of: 
   1. at the end of two (2 weeks) after the written notice is received by the Union; or
   2. on the day specified in the written notice.

The Union will accept resignations via email: membership@fsunion.org.au. Written notice will not be accepted in certain circumstances, including but not limited to:

• Email reply to a ‘no-reply’ email address hosted by the union
• Email to an FSU Workplace Representative or FSU Congress Delegate
• Messaging the union over its social media platforms
• Via SMS, including a reply to a SMS sent by the union

• Resignation on your behalf by someone other than a union official or a legal guardian

Verbal notice will not be accepted in certain circumstances, including but not limited to:

• Advising an FSU Workplace Representative or FSU Congress Delegate
• Advising a union official where that official advises you to put your resignation in writing
• Leaving a voice mail

• Resignation on your behalf by someone other than a union official or a legal guardian

Where you are receiving support from the union in relation to a workplace issue and the union becomes aware of the termination of your employment, redundancy or your extended leave from the workplace, the union will not affect a resignation and you must provide us with a written or verbal resignation via the means outlined above.

The union reserves the right at any time to reject a notice of resignation where it is not in accordance with the Union Rules.


Processing

Your resignation will be processed as soon as practicable. You will receive an acknowledgment of your request to resign and your fees will be placed on hold. Please take into account that it can take up to 3 business days for fees to be stopped. The union may seek to contact you to discuss your resignation. A final confirmation of your resignation will be sent two weeks following the acknowledgment.

You may retract your resignation request prior to receipt of the final confirmation correspondence. To do so, please contact our Membership Centre Team: membership@fsunion.org.au; 1300 366 378.

You are liable for all membership subscriptions, fines, levies and dues owing to the union up to the date the resignation is processed.

Once your resignation has been processed, you can no longer request support or assistance from the union nor can you participate in the affairs of the union. If you seek to re-join the union, the union may exercise its discretion and decline to assist you with any workplace or other issue which occurred in a period of non-membership. A break in your membership may also impact your right to nominate for a position or an office of the union.

The Union Rules do not require the Union to refund membership fees, however the Union may elect to do so in whole or in part on an ex gratia basis if:

• You have paid fees in advance for an extended period following the resignation;
• You have left employment and no longer work in industry covered by the union AND are suffering financial hardship;
• You can demonstrate exceptional or compelling circumstances.

Where a member has deceased, and notification to the union has been delayed by the member’s next of kin, the union will also consider refunding fees. The decision to refund fees, as well as the refund amount, is at the sole discretion of the union. The refund amount will be limited to:

• In the case of ex gratia refunds, as applicable:
  • The pro rata amount of union fees paid for the period of membership following resignation; or
  • The amount of fees paid to the union from the time the member’s employment terminated to the date the union was provided notice of the resignation request; or
  • Another amount deemed fair and equitable by the union.

Ex gratia refunds will be limited to maximum of three months of membership fees.

Relevant documentation such as a separation certificate from previous employers, proof of correspondence with the union etc. may be requested.

All refunds must be approved by the National Administrative Committee. This power has been delegated in accordance with Union Rules to senior officers.

If a refund is provided to you, you should be aware that there may be tax implications in relation to claims for tax deductions for your union fees. You are advised to seek appropriate tax guidance.

The Union will keep your original Membership Application in a secure and private environment. The Union is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and any information, such as bank details that you supply, will be treated as confidential and disclosed only in accordance with this Agreement, the Union’s Privacy Policy , or otherwise with your consent or as required by law.

This Agreement is governed by the by the laws of the State of Victoria, including applicable Commonwealth laws. 

If any provision of this Agreement is found to be illegal, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Agreement will continue in force. 

We may vary any details of this Agreement at any time by giving You at least 14 days written notice. 

This Agreement, as amended from time to time, is in effect on and from August 28, 2023 and remains in effect until further notice.