22.3% of UK employees are trade union members, but how do trade unions work and what are the benefits of joining one?
An Overview of Trade Unions
A trade union is an organisation made up of people who tend to be workers or employees who have joined together to help maintain and improve their employment conditions. Trade unions speak out on behalf of their members, looking out for their members’ best interests to ensure:
- Safe working conditions
- Protection from workplace bullying or discrimination
- Legal protection, where staff are treated in accordance to law
They do a variety of things, such as:
- Discuss major changes like redundancy
- Negotiate things like staff pay and pension benefits
- Accompany members to disciplinary and grievance meetings
- Provide information and guidance on work-related problems
- Provide legal and financial advice
- Help develop skills for members to gain better-paid jobs via training and education programmes
Unions put pressure on employers to take positive action, such as raising wages, as they are a group of people working as a collective force rather than as individuals that can be far more easily ignored.
In fact, union members in the UK receive, on average, 12.5% better pay than non-union members as well as better sickness and pension benefits, more holiday, and more flexible working hours.
Unions have brought significant positive change to UK employees, including a national minimum wage, equality legislation, reduced hours in the working week, minimum holiday and sickness entitlement, and many more transformations.
Joining a Trade Union
You can use the Trades Union Congress’ union finder to find a union for you.
If your work has a trade union, you can speak to the trade union representative about joining. You might be able to find their contact information on the work intranet, union noticeboard, or company handbook.
Workplaces in different sectors have recognised trade unions they choose to work with so you may wish to ask your employer which one they recognise. You can choose to join a different trade union to this one, but this may mean your union has less say in any issues affecting you in the workplace.
You have the right to:
- Join or not join a trade union
- Leave or remain in a trade union
- Belong to a union of your choice, even if it isn’t the one your employer negotiates with on pay and conditions
- Belong to more than one union
When you are part of a trade union, you will pay a membership fee to help fund the union’s work. Depending on your union, this will either be dependent on your salary or wage, or the same for every member regardless of pay.