List of trade unions in the United Kingdom

This is a list of trade unions in the United Kingdom formed under UK labour law. The criteria for being an independent trade union, free from employer influence and domination, are set out in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 section 5. The body which oversees unions, and awards a certificate of independence for the purpose of collective bargaining is the Trades Union Certification Officer. For the context and history see Trade unions in the United Kingdom.

Union confederations

• General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU)
• Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC)
• Trades Union Congress (TUC)

Independent unions

The following is a list of trade unions that are Certificated as independent by the Certification Officer, as of 14 July 2020.^[1]

Name	G.S.	Est.	Members	Description	Const.	National Affiliation	International Affiliation
App Drivers & Couriers Union	James Farrar	2015	7,082[2]	The ADCU objective is to organise and represent all app based transport workers whose work is predominately digitally intermediated.			IAATW
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen	Mick Whelan	1880	24,479[3]	ASLEF		TUC, STUC Labour	ITUC
Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union	Sarah Woolley	1847	14,377[4]	BFAWU		TUC	ITUC
British Air Line Pilots Association		1935	14,530[5]	BALPA		TUC	ITUC
British Medical Association	Mark Porter	1832	162,346[6]	BMA
Communication Workers Union	Dave Ward	1995	184,083[7]	The CWU was formed from a merger of the UCW and the NCU.	2012[permanent dead link]	TUC, STUC Labour	ITUC
Community	Roy Rickhuss CBE	2004	43,865[8]			TUC, STUC, Labour	ITUC
Educational Institute of Scotland	Andrea Bradley	1847	56,342[9]	The EIS represents teachers, college lecturers, university lecturers, instrumental music tutors, head teachers and educational psychologists working in Scotland.		TUC, STUC	ITUC
Equity	Paul W. Fleming	1930	46,683[10]	Actors, Stage Managers, Dancers, Variety performers, Creative workers		TUC, STUC	ITUC
Fire Brigades Union		1918	33,743[11]	FBU	2011	TUC, STUC, Labour	ITUC
The FDA		1918	19,876[12]	Managers and professionals in the public service		TUC, STUC	ITUC
GMB	Gary Smith	1982	570,107[13]	Formed from General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union, as a general workers' union. It includes the International Union of Sex Workers as a branch.	2016	TUC, STUC, Labour	ITUC
Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association		1944	3,137[14]	HCSA		TUC	ITUC
Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain	Henry Chango Lopez	2012	6,324[15]	IWGB
Industrial Workers of the World		1905	3,515[16]	IWW; Britain and Ireland region membership	current
Musicians' Union		1893	31,951[17]	MU	2009	TUC, STUC, Labour	ITUC
National Association of Probation Officers		1912	5,242[18]	NAPO		TUC, GFTU	ITUC
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers	Dr Patrick Roach	1976	296,964[19]	NASUWT	2016	TUC, STUC	ITUC
National Union of Journalists		1907	24,528[20]	NUJ		TUC, STUC	ITUC
National Union of Mineworkers		1945	82	NUM has very few members, given the dismantling of the industry after the UK miners' strike (1984–1985).		TUC, Labour	ITUC
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers	Mick Lynch	1990	81,197[21][22]	RMT was formerly the National Union of Railwaymen and National Union of Seamen, and absorbed the Offshore Industry Liaison Committee.	2010	TUC, STUC	ITUC, ITWF, WFTU
National Education Union	Daniel Kebede	2017	445,601[23]	NEU, representing members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, is the product of the recent merger between NUT and ATL	2012	TUC	ITUC
Nautilus International		1857	18,468[24]	A cross-border union for maritime professionals. Main offices are in London, Wallasey, Rotterdam and Basel. Previously known as NUMAST in the UK and FWZ in the Netherlands.		TUC	ITUC
The POA: Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers		1939	31,204[25]	POA		TUC	ITUC
Professional Footballers' Association		1907	5,457[26]	PFA		TUC, GFTU	ITUC
Prospect	Mike Clancy	2001	154,715[27]	Engineering, scientific, management and professional staff.	2013	TUC, STUC	ITUC, ITWF
Public and Commercial Services Union	Fran Heathcote	1998	191,289[28]	PCS	2012	TUC, STUC	ITUC, ITWF
Royal College of Nursing	Professor Nicola Ranger (Acting)	1916	538,982[29]	Represents workers in nursing	2012
Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists	Steve Jamieson	1945	9,112[30]	SCP		TUC	ITUC
Society of Radiographers		1920	33,250[31]	SoR		TUC, STUC	ITUC
Transport Salaried Staffs' Association	Maryam Eslamdoust	1897	18,142[32]	TSSA	2011	TUC, STUC, Labour	ITUC
Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru		1948	3,638[33]	UCAC; National Union of Teachers of Wales		TUC	ITUC
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers	Paddy Lillis	1946	369,437[34]	USDAW	2016	TUC, STUC, Labour	ITUC
UNISON	Christina McAnea	1993	1,210,250 [35]	Formed from merging NALGO, NUPE and COHSE as a union for public services workers.	2016	TUC, STUC, Labour	ITUC
Unite the Union	Sharon Graham	2007	1,246,429[36]	Formed in 2007 by a merger between Amicus and TGWU. Amicus was formerly AEEU and Manufacturing Science and Finance and Graphical, Paper and Media Union and UNIFI. UCATT merged in 2017.	2015	TUC, STUC, Labour	ITUC
United Voices of the World		2014	4,720[37]	UVW			ICL
University and College Union	Jo Grady	2006	122,104[38]	UCU; amalgam of the AUT and NATFHE.	2012	TUC	ITUC
Voice		1970	19,711[39]	Formerly the Professional Association of Teachers, it refuses to take strike action.		GFTU
Writers' Guild of Great Britain	Sandi Toksvig president	1959	2,860[40]	WGGB		TUC, GFTU	ITUC

Other independent unions

• Accord
• Advance
• Affinity
• Artists' Union England
• Associated Train Crew Union
• Association for Clinical Biochemistry
• Association of Educational Psychologists
• Association of Local Authority Chief Executives
• Association of Revenue and Customs
• Association of School and College Leaders
• Britannia Staff Union
• British Association of Dental Nurses
• British Association of Journalists
• British Association of Occupational Therapists
• British Dental Association
• British Dietetic Association
• British Orthoptic Society
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• Ellington Branch of the North East Area of the National Union of Mineworkers*
• FDA
• Fire Officers Association
• Guild of Professional Teachers of Dance, Movement to Music and Dramatic Arts
• Immigration Service Union (ISU)
• Independent Democratic Union
• Independent Pilots Association
• Institute of Journalists Trade Union
• International Transport Workers Federation*
• Leek United Building Society Staff Association
• National Association of Co-operative Officials
• National Association of Head Teachers
• National Association of NFU Group Secretaries
• National Association of Stable Staff
• National Crime Officers Association
• National Society for Education in Art and Design
• Nationwide Group Staff Union
• Pharmacists' Defence Association Union (PDA Union)
• PPU
• Prison Governors Association
• Retail Book Stationery and Allied Trades Employees Association
• Retained Firefighters Union
• Royal College of Midwives
• Sales Staff Association
• SKYSHARE
• Social Workers Union (SWU)
• Society of Authors
• Society of Union Employees (UNISON)
• Staff Union West Bromwich Building Society
• Union of Democratic Mineworkers
• United Road Transport Union
• VOICE
• Workers Uniting
• Workers of England Union

Scotland only

• Aegis the Union
• Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland
• Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association
• United and Independent Union

Northern Ireland only^[41]

• Belfast Airport Police Association
• Financial Services Union
• Independent Workers Union
• Irish National Teachers' Organisation
• Lough Neagh Fishermen's Association
• Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance
• SIPTU (Services, Industrial, Professional & Technical Union)
• Ulster Teachers' Union

Non-independent unions

The following is a list of trade unions that have not been certificated as independent by the Certification Officer 31 March 2017.^[42]

• App Drivers & Couriers Union (ADCU)
• Alliance for Finance
• ASPSU
• Association of Flight Attendants*
• Association of Somerset Inseminators
• Association of Trade Union Political and Public Sector Staff*
• Balfour Beatty Group Staff Association
• Blue Chip Staff Association
• Boots Pharmacists Association
• City Screen Staff Forum
• Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions*
• Criminal Justice Workers Union*
• Currys Supply Chain Staff Association
• Disabled Workers Union
• Employees Representatives*
• Employees United
• Federation of Entertainment Unions*
• G4S Care and Justice Services Staff Association
• General Federation of Trade Unions
• Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
• Independent Workers Union of Great Britain
• Institute of Football Management and Administration
• International Transport Workers Federation*
• Leeds Building Society Colleague Association
• Leicestershire Overmen Deputies and Shotfirers Association
• Locum Doctors Association
• MyUnion
• National House Building Council Staff Association
• News Union
• North of England Zoological Society Staff Association
• Palm Paper Staff Association
• Professional Cricketers' Association
• Professional Footballers' Association
• Professional Footballers' Association Scotland*
• RSPB Staff Association
• Rugby Players Association
• Scottish Colliery Enginemen Boilermen and Tradesmens Association*
• Society of Local Council Clerks*
• Union of Country Sports Workers
• United Voices of the World
• Warwick International Staff Association
• Welsh Rugby Players Association

Scotland only

• Association of College Staff Scotland
• Independent Federation of Nursing in Scotland
• Professional Footballers' Association Scotland*
• Scottish Artists Union
• Scottish Colliery Enginemen Boilermen and Tradesmens Association*

Northern Ireland^[41]

• IMPACT

Historical unions

• Altogether Builders' Labourers and Constructional Workers' Society
• Amalgamated Association of Carters and Motormen
• Amalgamated Carters, Lorrymen and Motormen's Union
• Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU)
• Amalgamated Marine Workers' Union (AMWU)
• Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (ASCJ)
• Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Machinists, Millwrights, Smiths and Pattern Makers (ASE)
• Amalgamated Society of Foremen Lightermen of River Thames
• Amalgamated Society of Watermen, Lightermen and Bargemen
• Associated Horsemen's Union
• Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians (ACTT, now in BECTU)
• Association of Coastwise Masters, Mates and Engineers
• Association of University Teachers AUT
• Association of Principal Fire Officers
• Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel
• Belfast Breadservers' Association
• Belfast Journeymen Butchers' Association
• Belfast Operative Bakers' Union
• British Association of Colliery Management
• British Seafarers' Union (BSU)
• Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union
• Burnley, Nelson, Rossendale and District Textile Workers' Union
• Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers' Union
• Chemical Workers' Union
• Civil and Public Services Association (CPSA)
• Community and Youth Workers' Union
• Confederation of Health Service Employees (COHSE)
• Connect (???–2010) (now in Prospect)
• Cumberland Enginemen, Boilermen and Electrical Workers' Union
• Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union (DWRGLU)
• Dundee Pilots
• Electricity Supply Staff Association (Dublin)
• Federation of Professional Railway Staff
• File Grinders' Society
• Gibraltar Apprentices and Ex-Apprentices Union
• Gibraltar Confederation of Labour
• Gibraltar Labour Trades Union
• Government Civil Employees' Association
• Grangemouth Pilots' Association
• Greenock Sugar Porters' Association
• Grimsby Steam and Diesel Fishing Vessels Engineers' and Firemen's Union
• Halifax and District Carters' and Motormen's Association
• Humber Amalgamated Steam Trawlers' Engineers, and Firemen's Union
• Imperial War Graves Commission Staff Association
• Institution of Professional Civil Servants
• Irish Mental Hospital Workers' Union
• Irish Union of Hairdressers and Allied Workers
• Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC)
• Iron, Steel and Wood Barge Builders and Helpers Association
• Labour Protection League
• Leith and Granston Pilots
• Liverpool and District Carters' and Motormen's Union
• London Co-operative Mutuality Club Collectors' Association
• Lurgan Hemmers' Veiners' and General Workers' Union
• Manchester Ship Canal Pilots' Association
• Manufacturing Science and Finance (MSF)
• Methil Pilots
• National Amalgamated Coal Workers' Union
• National Amalgamated Labourers' Union
• National Amalgamated Stevedores' and Dockers' Society
• National Amalgamated Union of Enginemen, Firemen, Mechanics, Motormen and Electrical Workers
• National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers
• National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers (South Wales Area)
• National Association of Local Government Officers (NALGO, now in UNISON)
• National Association of Operative Plasterers
• National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education NATFHE (www.natfhe.org.uk). Now amalgamated into the University and College Union (www.ucu.org.uk), along with the AUT
• National Association of Youth Hostel Wardens
• National Federation of SubPostmasters
• National Glass Bottle Makers' Society
• National Glass Workers' Trade Protection Association
• National Union of British Fishermen
• National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers
• National Union of Civil and Public Servants (NUCPS)
• National Union of Co-operative Insurance Society Employees
• National Union of Dock Labourers (NUDL)
• National Union of Docks, Wharves and Shipping Staffs
• National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers
• National Union of Knitwear, Footwear & Apparel Trades (KFAT)
• Miners' Federation of Great Britain
• National Union of Public Employees (NUPE)
• National Union of Railwaymen (NUR)
• National Union of Seamen (NUS)
• National Union of Shale Miners and Oil Workers
• National Union of Ships' Clerks, Grain Weighers and Coalmeters
• National Union of Ship's Stewards (NUSSCBB)
• National Union of Vehicle Builders
• National Union of Vehicle Workers
• National Winding and General Engineers' Society
• North of England Engineers' and Firemen's Amalgamation
• North of England Trimmers' and Teemers Association
• North of Ireland Operative Butchers' and Allied Workers' Association
• North of Scotland Horse and Motormen's Association
• North Wales Craftsmen and General Workers' Union
• North Wales Quarrymen's Union
• Northern Carpet Trades Union
• Northern Ireland Textile Workers' Union
• Northern Textile and Allied Workers' Union
• Operative Bricklayers' Society (OBS)
• Port of Liverpool Staff Association
• Port of London Deal Porters' Union
• Portadown Textile Workers' Union
• Power Loom Tenters' Trade Union of Ireland
• Process and General Workers' Union
• Radcliffe and District Enginemen and Boilermen's Provident Society
• Scottish Busmen's Union
• Scottish Commercial Motormen's Union
• Scottish Farm Servants' Association
• Scottish Primary Teachers' Association (2011–2012)
• Scottish Seafishers' Union
• Scottish Slaters, Tilers, Roofers and Cement Workers' Society
• Scottish Textile Workers' Union
• Scottish Transport and General Workers' Union (Docks)
• Scottish Union of Dock Labourers (SUDL)
• Sheffield Amalgamated Union of File Trades
• Shield Guarding Staff Association
• Staff Association for Royal Automobile Club Employees
• Staff Association of Bank of Baroda (UK Region)
• SURGE (Skipton Union Representing Group Employees)
• Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section, now part of Amicus
• Union of Bookmakers Employees
• Union of Kodak Workers
• United Cut Nail Makers of Great Britain Protection Society
• UFS
• United Fishermen's Union
• United Order of General Labourers
• United Vehicle Workers
• Unity
• Watermen, Lightermen, Tugmen and Bargemen's Union
• Weaver Watermen's Association
• Whatman Staff Association
• Workers' Union
• Yorkshire Independent Staff Association

See also

• FTSE 100 and FT 30
• Labour Party (UK) affiliated trade union
• List of hedge funds
• List of largest United Kingdom employers
• List of students' unions in the United Kingdom
• List of trade unions in Germany
• List of trade unions in the United States
• List of Transport and General Workers' Union amalgamations
• List of unions
• Teachers' trade unions in the United Kingdom
• Trade Union and Labour Party Liaison Organisation
• UK labour law

Key - Asterisk after name = Trade unions known to the Certification Officer but not applying to be included in the list for 31 March 2014

Notes

1. "Trade unions: the current list and schedule". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
2. "App Drivers and Couriers Union Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
3. "Form AR21 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). GOV.UK. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
4. "BAKERS, FOOD & ALLIED WORKERS Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2023" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
5. "Form AR21 (Annual Return for a Trade Union): British Air Line Pilots Association" (PDF). GOV.UK. 26 July 2023.
6. "British Medical Association Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2021" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
7. "Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
8. "Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
9. "Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
10. "Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
11. "FBU: annual returns (PDF format)" (PDF). GOV.UK.
12. "FDA: annual returns (PDF format)" (PDF). GOV.UK.
13. "GMB Form AR21 for year ended 31st December 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
14. "Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association Form AR21 for year ended 30 September 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
15. Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB): annual returns UK Certification Officer.
16. "Industrial Workers of the World - Form AR21" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
17. "Form AR21 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 : Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). Assetsd.publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
18. "NAPO Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2021" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
19. "NASUWT Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
20. "National Union of Journalists Form AR21 for year ended 30 September 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
21. "National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers: annual returns". gov.uk.

    • 2012 Annual Return at the Wayback Machine (archived 10 December 2014)
    • 2013 Annual Return at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 December 2022)
    • 2014 Annual Return at the Wayback Machine (archived 30 September 2015)
    • 2015 Annual Return at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 December 2022)
    • 2016 Annual Return at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 December 2022)
    • 2017 Annual Return at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 December 2022)
    • 2018 Annual Return at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 December 2022)
    • 2019 Annual Return at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 December 2022)
    • 2020 Annual Return at the Wayback Machine (archived 1 December 2022)
    • 2021 Annual Return at the Wayback Machine (archived 21 December 2022)
22. "About us". Rmt.org.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
23. "National Education Union Form AR21 for year ended 31 August 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
24. "Nautilus International Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2021" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
25. "POA Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2021" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
26. "The Professional Footballers' Association Form AR21 for year ended 30 June 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
27. "Prospect Annual Report 2022". Prospect. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
28. "Public and Commercial Services Union Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
29. "Royal College of Nursing Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
30. "Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
31. "The Society of Radiographers Form AR21 for year ended 30 September 2022" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
32. "Form AR21: Transport Salaried Staffs' Association" (PDF). GOV.UK. 26 July 2023.
33. "Form AR21 - Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). publishing.service.gov.uk. 2023.
34. "Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2021" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
35. "UNISON Annual Report 2022—2023" (PDF). Unison. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
36. "Unite the Union Form AR21 for year ended 31 December 2020" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
37. United Voices of the World: annual returns UK Certification Officer.
38. "Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
39. "Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
40. "Annual Return for a Trade Union" (PDF). publishing.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
41. "Northern Ireland Certification Officers Report 2012-13, Accessed 25 January 2015" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
42. Certification officers Annual Report for 2016-17, Accessed 25 July 2018

References

• E McGaughey, 'Democracy or Oligarchy? Models of Union Governance in the UK, Germany and US' (2017) ssrn.com

External links

• Certification Officer