Trade union membership on the increase in 2007

Trade union membership increased slightly last year despite a drop in the overall number of recognised union bodies, official figures have revealed.

The annual report of The Certification Officer - who keeps records of union activity - showed the number of workers that were members of a trade union rose by 0.33% in 2007-08 to 7.62 million.

Over the period, 12 unions and two employers' associations ceased to exist. Six unions ceased to exist by reason of having merged, while five were dissolved, and one - the National Union of Mineworkers (Durham Area) - ceased to be a trade union. The report also recorded 80 employers organisations.

The Certification Officer also has a role in investigating complaints from trade union members. In 2007-08, 32 complaints were determined. Of these, 29 alleged that a union had breached its own rules, while the other three related to breaches of statutory provisions.