Protect was just an idea back in the 90's, that electrical workers were an important enough group that they should have control over their own fund that secured worker payments in times of company insolvency. An employee benefit fund that provided electrical workers with the financial security to survive cycles in the economy and project-based work to increase income stability.

Fast forward to 2018, in a survey of 18,000 electrical workers, the Electrical Trade Union identified the top three issues prioritised by their members as:

1. Wages
2. Safety
3. Protect Cover

Fair to say we got it right. We've weathered transition, redundancies and liquidation together and ensured that electrical workers have had immediate access to their entitlements through a fund that also allows for significant tax savings. 2019 figures show that there have been over 50,000 claims on Protect severance accounts from electrical members with almost $400 million securely delivered to these workers during periods of unemployment or transition.

Protect income protection insurance ensures that electrical workers employed under an ETU EBA are covered for non-work related injury or illness.  The policy is held by the ETU and issued by ATC Insurance Solutions. Cover is global, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Features of Protect's Standard Injury & Illness Cover include a generous death benefit, serious trauma, broken bones and dental injury benefits, no requirement to exhaust sick leave and cover for amateur sports injuries.

There are over 13,000 electrical workers covered by Protect's superior income protection insurance with the bulk of claims made in support of serious cancer illnesses, cardiovascular and brain conditions and sports injuries. The claim acceptance rate is consistently above industry standards, attributable in part to the personal support members get from our Field Team.

All members of Protect and their immediate family are eligible for free counselling services.  Protect Counselling is an external service sometimes preferred for the independence that ensures total privacy. It's separate from the employer, the union and the insurer.

We partner with Hunterlink to provide a free professional confidential service Australia wide 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Protect are provided basic non-identifying statistics on the use of the service including number of calls, age range and industry. 

Call the dedicated counselling phone number:
1300 725 881

Members may also access downloadable resources from the online counselling portal including information on dealing with workplace change and conflict, to family relationships and mental health.

Password: Protect