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Trade unions

A trade union is an association of workers in a particular industry or sector, designed to protect the rights, interests and working conditions of employees. Large trade unions in the UK include the TUC, Unite, Unison, the GMB and Usdaw.

Trade unions can receive recognition, or employers can derecognise trade unions. Employment laws protecting employees taking industrial action, such as taking part in strikes or picketing, are contained in the Employment Rights Act 1996 and Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.


    • NHS
    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Latest News

    BMA staff ready to strike over pay

    by Adam McCulloch 30 Jan 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 30 Jan 2025

    The British Medical Association is facing a walk-out after claims it had underpaid tens of advisers.

    • Financial services
    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Latest News

    Capita workers in Manchester and Glasgow go on strike

    by Adam McCulloch 30 Jan 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 30 Jan 2025

    Workers at outsourcer Capita have begun strike action in a dispute over their employer’s refusal to negotiate a pay award for 2024.

    • Dispute resolution
    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Latest News

    Avanti train strikes suspended as talks resume

    by Adam McCulloch 17 Jan 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 17 Jan 2025

    Avanti West Coast train staff have suspended their strikes set for the next two Sundays to allow for talks.

    • Dispute resolution
    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Latest News

    Avanti strike on track as pay dispute continues

    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 10 Jan 2025
    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 10 Jan 2025

    Avanti West Coast staff will go on strike as planned this Sunday (12 January) as the dispute over pay continues, the RMT union confirms.

    • Department for Education
    • Latest News
    • Industrial action / strikes

    Education union threatens strike action

    by Jo Faragher 10 Jan 2025
    by Jo Faragher 10 Jan 2025

    England’s biggest teaching union, the National Education Union, has announced it will ballot on strike action.
    The NEU has accused...

    • Latest News
    • Trade unions

    RMT boss Mick Lynch to retire

    by Rob Moss 9 Jan 2025
    by Rob Moss 9 Jan 2025

    RMT general secretary Mick Lynch to retire in May at the age of 63, after four years leading the rail union.

    • Europe
    • Manufacturing
    • Latest News

    Volkswagen agrees deal to avoid compulsory redundancies

    by Adam McCulloch 23 Dec 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 23 Dec 2024

    Volkswagen has agreed a deal with the IG Metall trade union that will avoid further strikes, plant closures in Germany and immediate compulsory redundancies.

    • NHS
    • Latest News
    • Trade unions

    GMB union calls for NHS pay awards to be ‘truly independent’

    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 18 Dec 2024
    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 18 Dec 2024

    The GMB Union urges the Pay Review Body (PRB) to ensure NHS workers’ pay awards next April are “truly independent”.

    • Dispute resolution
    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Latest News

    Avanti West Coast workers to strike on New Year’s Eve

    by Jo Faragher 18 Dec 2024
    by Jo Faragher 18 Dec 2024

    Avanti West Coast workers will now strike over New Year's Eve and on Sundays between January and May.

    • Latest News
    • Trade unions
    • Works councils

    Royal Mail takeover approved, staff to receive dividend

    by Jo Faragher 16 Dec 2024
    by Jo Faragher 16 Dec 2024

    The government has approved the takeover of Royal Mail’s parent company to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Latest News
    • Trade unions

    Christmas rail strikes suspended after new pay offer

    by Jo Faragher 13 Dec 2024
    by Jo Faragher 13 Dec 2024

    A series of rail strikes due to take place over the Christmas period have been suspended after Avanti West Coast submitted a revised offer to union members.

    • Employment law
    • Latest News
    • Economics, government & business

    2024: the year’s biggest news in employment and HR

    by Adam McCulloch 13 Dec 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 13 Dec 2024

    The arrival of the first Labour government for 14 years ushered in a host of changes for employers.

    • NHS
    • Education
    • Latest News

    Unions call 2.8% pay rise proposal an ‘insult’

    by Jo Faragher 11 Dec 2024
    by Jo Faragher 11 Dec 2024

    Ministers have written to pay review bodies recommending a pay rise of 2.8% for public sector workers, prompting anger from unions.

    • Latest News
    • Equal pay
    • Trade unions

    Birmingham City Council to settle 6,000 equal pay claims

    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 10 Dec 2024
    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 10 Dec 2024

    Birmingham City Council agrees to settle 6,000 equal pay claims brought by both past and present staff four years after they were launched.

    • Fire and rehire
    • Employee relations
    • Latest News

    Tribunal uplifts for ‘fire and rehire’ code breaches to take effect

    by Jo Faragher 9 Dec 2024
    by Jo Faragher 9 Dec 2024

    Employers that fail to comply with the statutory code of practice on dismissal and re-engagement could be forced to pay more from January next year.

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