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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.


    • Collective redundancy
    • Employee relations
    • Dispute resolution

    Unite calls off industrial action at Tata Steel

    by Ashleigh Webber 1 Jul 2024
    by Ashleigh Webber 1 Jul 2024

    A strike and action short of a strike have been called off after Tata Steel indicated it would enter into negotiations.

    • Collective redundancy
    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Job creation and losses

    Tata Steel considers earlier Port Talbot closure due to strike

    by Ashleigh Webber 28 Jun 2024
    by Ashleigh Webber 28 Jun 2024

    Tata Steel could close its Port Talbot furnaces earlier than planned if strike action goes ahead next month.

    • Offices
    • Health and safety
    • Latest News

    New government must introduce maximum working temperature

    by Rob Moss 25 Jun 2024
    by Rob Moss 25 Jun 2024

    TUC warns that the next government must bring in maximum working temperature as forecasters predict parts of the UK could hit 30C.

    • CIPD
    • Employee relations
    • Dispute resolution

    HR ‘must rebuild industrial relations skills’

    by Ashleigh Webber 14 Jun 2024
    by Ashleigh Webber 14 Jun 2024

    Industrial relations experts have urged HR professionals to rebuild their industrial relations skills and invest in relationships with trade unions.

    • Zero hours
    • Latest News
    • Labour market

    Levels of insecure work reach record-high

    by Rob Moss 14 Jun 2024
    by Rob Moss 14 Jun 2024

    Number of people in insecure work reaches a record high of 4.1 million, according to TUC analysis published today.

    • Local authorities
    • Latest News
    • Equal pay

    Union asks Brighton & Hove council for equal pay talks

    by Ashleigh Webber 12 Jun 2024
    by Ashleigh Webber 12 Jun 2024

    The GMB union has written to Brighton & Hove City Council to ask how it will resolve equal pay claims.

    • Collective bargaining
    • Latest News
    • Industrial action / strikes

    Investors pressure Amazon on union membership practices

    by Rob Moss 5 Jun 2024
    by Rob Moss 5 Jun 2024

    Institutional investors sign letter expressing concerns over Amazon’s alleged response to trade union membership at its Coventry fulfilment centre.

    • Employment law
    • Discipline
    • Latest News

    TUC unfairly dismissed two employees after flawed investigation

    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Jun 2024
    by Ashleigh Webber 5 Jun 2024

    Two workers were unfairly dismissaed by the TUC after the deputy general secretary was involved in the dismissal and appeal process.

    • Local authorities
    • Latest News
    • Political elections

    Labour would investigate exploitation of migrant care workers

    by Rob Moss 4 Jun 2024
    by Rob Moss 4 Jun 2024

    Labour's new employment enforcement body would investigate migrant care worker exploitation, says Yvette Cooper

    • NHS
    • Latest News
    • Industrial action / strikes

    RCN chief to step down and stand for election

    by Jo Faragher 29 May 2024
    by Jo Faragher 29 May 2024

    Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, will step down and stand as a candidate in the forthcoming general election.

    • Fire and rehire
    • Zero hours
    • Employment law

    Labour publishes plan to deliver New Deal for workers

    by Rob Moss 28 May 2024
    by Rob Moss 28 May 2024

    Party publishes New Deal for Working People under the heading Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay, attracting some union criticism.

    • Auto-enrolment
    • Latest News
    • Industrial action / strikes

    Morrisons warehouse workers strike over pension contribution change

    by Adam McCulloch 24 May 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 24 May 2024

    Morrisons has moved to a policy of employers and employees paying 4% into pensions since April.

    • Apprenticeships
    • Latest News
    • Learning & development

    School leavers to be welcomed on train driver courses

    by Adam McCulloch 16 May 2024
    by Adam McCulloch 16 May 2024

    Eighteen-year-olds to be permitted to drive mainline trains as industry seeks to halt over-reliance on overtime and tackle effects of ageing workforce.

    • Civil Service
    • Latest News
    • Industrial action / strikes

    Civil service union misses strike vote threshold in most departments

    by Ashleigh Webber 15 May 2024
    by Ashleigh Webber 15 May 2024

    Civil servants vote in favour of strike, but the union fails to achieve turnout threshold in key departments.

    • Zero hours
    • Employment law
    • Latest News

    Why Labour’s New Deal intrigues business leaders more than it worries them

    by Amanda Glover 14 May 2024
    by Amanda Glover 14 May 2024

    Labour's New Deal for Working People challenges the idea that the UK should be a low cost, deregulated economy, given that productivity remains stubbornly below its European competitors.

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