AEEU
Members:
27,000; 19,000 in Northern Ireland and 8,000 in Republic. Mainly craftworkers.
Finance: advice on financial matters, including mortgages, pensions and debt counselling. Preferential rates for loans, car and house insurance.
ATGWU Members: 53,000; 36,000 in Northern Ireland and 17,000 in Republic. General union.
Finance: free tax advice for members. Accident, funeral and sickness benefits ranging from £8 a week to lump sums of up to £3,500 in the case of fatal accidents.
Health: the union has convalescing homes in England and Wales, where members can recuperate from serious illnesses. Members who are drivers can receive up to £1,700 if they lose their licence due to health problems - this does not cover licences lost due to driving offences.
Travel: discounts on travel for members.
free legal aid for accidents at work, or accidents while travelling to and from work. Up to 30 minutes free legal advice with a solicitor on any other legal problem.
Shopping: discounts for members in named stores.
Scholarships: limited number available for members who wish to pursue third level courses. Also language courses in Irish and major European languages.
CPSU
Members: 12,000; Largest civil service union.
Finance:
special car and home insurance rates. Contributory income continuance plans available to members as well as a pension scheme to buy AVCs on top of public service pension.
Travel: discount holiday plan, Iarnrod Eireann vouchers for rail travel.
Health: dental, optical and hospital benefits of up to £300. Cancer screening.
CWU
Members: 20,000; main union in Telecom Eireann and An Post.
Finance: free comprehensive personal accident cover worth up to £15,000. Sickness benefit of up to 75 per cent of basic salary, death benefit of up to £4,000. There are preferential rates for home and car insurance, group life assurance and health schemes. The union gives grants towards the purchase of specialised housing by members who have handicapped relatives. The union has contributory schemes, including an orphans' pension fund and, in the case of Telecom Eireann employees, extra AVCs. For £1 a week the union provides medical cover for members' families of between £72 and £105 a year.
members can apply for legal aid in relation to traffic accidents, compensation claims, inquests and wills.
IBOA
Members: 15,000; 5,000 in Northern Ireland and 10,000 in Republic; bank officials.
Finance: preferential rates for house and car insurance.
Recreation: the association has a network of "Bankers' Clubs" which provide entertainment. It also has a sports and social club in Dublin.
Education: there are a small number of scholarships available for members' children.
IMPACT
Members: 31,000; largest public service union with members in civil service, local authorities, health boards and semi-states.
Finance: preferential rates for bank loans, mortgages car and house insurance. Group life assurance and income continuance plans. The union has an AVC scheme for members.
Travel: discounts on holidays and airflights through named travel agent. Iarnrod Eireann vouchers for rail travel.
special rates for conveyancing, writing wills and probate.
Shopping: the union's Cork branch has negotiated discount deals for members at more than 40 shops in the city.
Scholarships: the union provides a limited number of scholarship schemes for members taking courses in industrial relations and trade union studies, as well as about 50 Gaeltacht scholarships for members' children.
INO
Members: 16,000; largest nursing union.
Finance: preferential car insurance.
professional indemnity for members and legal representation in work related situations.
Health: preferential rates for health insurance.
Travel: discounts on holidays and air travel. Iarnrod Eireann rail vouchers.
Education: free library facilities for members, interest free loans for fee courses and a professional development centre. Most of the centre's courses have Bord Altranais approval.
INTO
Members: 26,000; 21,000 in the Republic and 5,000 in Northern Ireland; largest teachers' union
Finance: preferential car insurance rates and a salary protection scheme. Teachers can buy AVCs to top up their pensions. Affinity Visa card with AIB offering lower interest rates than the standard Visa card and right to transfer existing debts to the new account. The INTO also has the largest credit union in the ICTU.
Travel: discounts for various holiday and hotel packages.
Phones: the INTO is negotiating a deal with Eircell for members to receive low tariffs on mobile phone calls.
MANDATE
Members: 31,000; largest union in retail and licensed trade.
Finance: car and health insurance cover for members.
MSF
Members: 31,000; 10,000 in Northern Ireland and 21,000 in Republic; represents craftworkers, and white collar management, technical and supervisory grades.
Finance: AIB Visa affinity card with lower rates of interest. Preferential loans from ACC. Cheap house insurance scheme.
advice and representation for members in work-related situations.
SIPTU
Members: 198,000; 7,000 in Northern Ireland, 191,000 in Republic. General union covering all occupations.
Finance: taxchecks are provided free to members, to ensure they are claiming full tax relief. SIPTU says that so far 3,290 members have recovered £812,000 in tax as a result. Advice on insurance and other financial products.
Travel: special discounts on Dublin Bus, reduced rates at a number of hotels, preferential car hire rates.
Health: VHI group scheme and health cash plan.
free legal assistance to members injured at work. Special rates for making wills.
Shopping: discounts at named stores.
Scholarships: the union has 50 scholarships each year at second level and nine at third level for members and their children. There are also 150 Gaeltacht scholarships per annum.
TEEU
Members: 26,000; mainly craftworkers.
Finance: special scheme to cover private motor, household and personal accident insurance.
free civil legal aid scheme for members and immediate family (spouse and children) covering accidents at work, road traffic accidents, making wills and personal injury outside work. Free legal advice on social welfare rights, pensions and investments, house purchase and other matters.
Most unions provide strike pay of £40-£50 a week and have hardship funds available to help members or their families.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/VR3765MFOBH2NMV2QNICYDF67M.png)