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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.


    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Unison bans all talk of equal pay at annual conference to protect legal case

    by Personnel Today 22 Jun 2006
    by Personnel Today 22 Jun 2006

    Unison, the UK's largest trade union, has vetoed equal pay discussions at its annual conference to avoid "legal jeopardy".

    • Employee relations
    • Trade unions

    GMB bows out but super union is still on the cards

    by Personnel Today 20 Jun 2006
    by Personnel Today 20 Jun 2006

    Amicus and the Transport and General Workers’ Union (T&G) have vowed to press ahead with the creation of a ‘super union’, despite GMB members rejecting the merger plans last week.

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Trade unions

    GMB members vote against super-union merger

    by Mike Berry 16 Jun 2006
    by Mike Berry 16 Jun 2006

    Plans to create a so-called 'super union' have suffered a setback with GMB members voting against the merger

    • Employee relations
    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Latest News

    Midweek rail strikes suspended after improved offer from employers

    by Michael Millar 16 Jun 2006
    by Michael Millar 16 Jun 2006

    Rail operator Network Rail's improved pay and conditions deal has averted strikes due next Tuesday and Wednesday, although strikes planned for the following weekend have yet to be postoponed

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Economics, government & business

    Unions link with Investors in People to boost workplace skills

    by dan thomas 13 Jun 2006
    by dan thomas 13 Jun 2006

    Investors in People and Unionlearn, the TUC’s workplace learning arm, have signed an agreement to work together to promote learning and skills at work.

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Economics, government & business

    MPs urge Peugeot to reconsider closure of Ryton factory

    by Personnel Today 13 Jun 2006
    by Personnel Today 13 Jun 2006

    Midlands-based MPs are putting pressure on Peugeot to consider alternative plans to keep the car maker’s Ryton factory open.

    • Employee relations
    • Trade unions

    Aslef accuses RMT of people poaching

    by Personnel Today 13 Jun 2006
    by Personnel Today 13 Jun 2006

    A fierce row has broken out between the rail industry’s two main unions, after Aslef – the body representing train...

    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    GMB faces £1m payout over botched equal pay action in Middlesbrough

    by Mike Berry 9 Jun 2006
    by Mike Berry 9 Jun 2006

    Tribunal finds union guilty of giving poor advice to women seeking equal pay settlement.

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Trade unions

    Unionists global death toll reaches 115 in 2005

    by Mike Berry 8 Jun 2006
    by Mike Berry 8 Jun 2006

    Unionists put lives on the line in fight for rights around the world.

    • Employee relations
    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Department for Work and Pensions

    Department for Work and Pensions could see more strike action

    by dan thomas 7 Jun 2006
    by dan thomas 7 Jun 2006

    The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has raised the prospect of more strikes in Whitehall departments with the demand of a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies

    • Employee relations
    • Dispute resolution
    • Industrial action / strikes

    University lecturers and employers meet again over pay dispute

    by Mike Berry 6 Jun 2006
    by Mike Berry 6 Jun 2006

    Lecturers' unions and university employers are to meet again later today in a fresh bid to end the increasingly bitter pay dispute

    • Employee relations
    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Latest News

    Peugeot employees vote not to take strike action

    by Georgina Fuller 5 Jun 2006
    by Georgina Fuller 5 Jun 2006

    Workers at Peugeot have voted not to take strike action over the loss of 2,300 jobs at the car manufacturers' Warwickshire plant

    • Employee relations
    • Industrial action / strikes
    • Latest News

    Ministry of Defence employees vote in favour of strike action

    by Mike Berry 5 Jun 2006
    by Mike Berry 5 Jun 2006

    Union members at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a row over job cuts and privatisation

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Economics, government & business

    PCS and Capita sign new national agreement

    by Mike Berry 23 May 2006
    by Mike Berry 23 May 2006

    The agreement covers all central government contracts and will set out a framework for working together on both a local and national level

    • Employee relations
    • Latest News
    • Trade unions

    GMB union confirms Paul Kenny as general secretary after year as acting leader

    by Mike Berry 9 May 2006
    by Mike Berry 9 May 2006

    GMB union gives new general secretary five-year contract.

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