Terms and Conditions

The Association for Laboratory Medicine is both a professional body and an independent Trade Union. Membership of the Association includes eligibility for Trade Union representation and support in accordance with these Terms and Conditions and the Association’s Articles and Bye-Laws.

These terms and conditions apply to all members but there will be some items that might not be relevant for certain categories of member.

 

1. Applications for membership

  • All individuals wishing to apply for membership of the Association must complete an online registration form and agree to abide by the rules of the Association (as per the Articles, Bye-Laws and Code of Professional Conduct).

  • Applications for membership can be made under one of the following categories; Member or Student.

  • Applications are invited from healthcare professionals with an interest in laboratory medicine are eligible for membership, for example; clinical / biomedical scientist, senior lecturer, consultant chemical pathologist, research technician, clinical virologist etc.

  • Full details of all the membership categories and current subscription rates are detailed on the Association website at: https://www.labmed.org.uk/join-us/healthcare-professionals.html

  • All membership applications are approved by Council.

  • Members of the Association who undertake a career break or become temporarily retired, may on application, become Temporary Retired Members. Such Members shall confirm at the beginning of each subscription year that they are not in employment. They shall not be eligible for membership of Council.

 

2. Subscriptions

  • Members shall pay an annual subscription to the Association and for each subsequent year of membership.

  • Membership fees are an annual commitment irrespective of the payment method or schedule. In the event of termination of membership the full annual subscription fee must be paid.

  • New memberships commence from the date of approval with renewal due on that date every year thereafter.

  • In January 2023 the five subscription bands within Ordinary & Overseas Ordinary membership were replaced by the full Member subscription fee and discounted Member subscription fee.

  • The discounted fee applies during the first 5 consecutive years of membership. Members with an Ordinary band 1 membership at 31 December 2022 are eligible for the discounted fee for 5 years, starting from when they are next due to renew after 1 January 2023. For all other existing subscriptions the 5 year discounted period commences from the date of first joining.

  • The discount is only available to the same individual once, therefore if a member were to resign and rejoin at a later date, the discounted fee would not apply.

  • Members of the Association of Clinical Biochemists in Ireland (ACBI) and/or the Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine in Ireland (ACSLM) residing in the Republic of Ireland, are also entitled to the discounted subscription for the duration they are members of one or both of these Associations and LabMed.

 

3. Termination of membership

  • A member may terminate their subscription by giving notice in writing (email to [email protected] is sufficient) to the Association at least 30 days prior to their next renewal date.

  • Membership may be terminated by:

  • The Company Secretary (or any Officer acting in that capacity), if a member is in arrears with any subscription fee (or part thereof) 3 months after the due date. The member will remain liable to pay the Association all subscription fees due for the current year.

or

  • A Resolution of Council, if a member fails to observe any applicable rules of the Association or injures or brings into disrepute the Association or the profession of Laboratory Medicine. Such a Resolution must be passed by Council, with a two-thirds majority of votes cast and the member must have been given the opportunity to defend their conduct.

 

4. Members’ obligations to the Association

  • Members in all categories are obliged to comply with the Code of Professional Conduct set by the Association and by all bodies with which they are registered e.g. the Health and Care Professions Council, the General Medical Council.

  • Members in all categories are expected to conform to the highest ethical and professional standards in their work, their public life, their relations with the Association and their fellow members.

  • Members in all categories must not act to injure the Association or its reputation, nor must they give the impression that they are acting, writing or speaking for the Association, unless they are authorised to do so.

 

5. Trade Union representation

The Association for Laboratory Medicine is an independent Trade Union. As part of membership, eligible members working in the UK may receive Trade Union advice, representation and support in matters relating to employment, professional practice and industrial relations, subject to the provisions set out below.

  • The Trade Union will not normally provide resources in support of a member’s industrial relations case where the main substance of the case arose before, or within 90 days of, the date of written application for membership. At the discretion of Trade Union Officers, appropriate advice may nevertheless be offered.

  • Decisions regarding the extent of expenditure of Trade Union resources in pursuit of any member’s case will be taken by at least two Officers of the Trade Union Committee, one of whom shall be the Chair, Secretary or National Negotiator.

  • Applications to review such decisions will be considered by the Chair and Secretary, after taking advice from the Industrial Relations Advisors to the Trade Union and in the light of any further documentation provided. The unanimous decision of the Chair and Secretary shall be final.