List of trade unions in the United Kingdom

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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 Section 5 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. 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

Trade unions

The following is a list of trade unions as designated by the Certification Officer, as of 20 December 2025:[1]

More information Name, Year est. ...
Name Year est. Independence Status Number of members Key sectors National affiliation International affiliation
Accord 1978 Independent[2] Decrease 21,451 (2024)[3] Finance / banking
Advance 1977 Independent[4] Decrease 5,512 (2024)[5] Finance / banking
Aegis the Union 1971 Independent[6] Increase 4,093 (2024)[7] Finance / insurance
Affinity 1980 Independent[8] Increase 18,574 (2024)[9] Finance / banking None None
App Drivers and Couriers Union 2015 Independent[10] Increase 9,205 (2024)[11] Private transport / gig economy
Artists' Union England 2014 Independent[12] Increase 1,200 (2023)[13] Entertainment and the arts / museums and art galleries
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) 1880 Independent[14] Increase 24,782 (2023)[15] Transportation / trains
Association for Laboratory Medicine 1952 Cannot confirm Increase 1,407 (2024)[16] Healthcare science / clinical scientists None None
Association of Educational Psychologists 1962 Independent[17] Increase 4,256 (2024)[18] Education / psychologists
Association of Flight Attendants 1945 Cannot confirm Decrease 328 (2024)[19] Aviation / cabin crew
Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland 1975 Cannot confirm Increase 2,774 (2024)[20] Education None None
Association of Local Authority Chief Executives 1976 Cannot confirm Increase 350 (2024)[21] Local government None None
Association of Local Council Clerks 2016 Cannot confirm Decrease 761 (2021)[22] Local government None None
Association of Revenue and Customs 2005 Independent[23] Increase 2,676 (2024)[24] HMRC staff
None
Association of School and College Leaders 2006 Cannot confirm Decrease 24,778 (2024)[25] Education None None
Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) 1847 Independent[26] Increase 14,645 (2024)[27] Food production / hospitality / catering
British Air Line Pilots Association 1937 Independent[28][note 1] Increase 14,375 (2023)[29] Civil aviation / air transport
British Association of Dental Nurses 1940 Independent[30] Decrease 4,585 (2024)[31] Healthcare (dental nursing) None None
British Association of Journalists 1992 Independent[32] Decrease 731 (2023)[33] Media / journalism None None
British Association of Occupational Therapists 1932 Independent[34] Increase 36,015 (2024)[35] Healthcare (occupational therapy)
None
British Dental Association 1880 Independent[36] Decrease 15,698 (2022)[37] Healthcare (dentistry) None None
British Dietetic Association 1936 Independent[38] Increase 11,656 (2024)[39] Healthcare (dietitians)
British Medical Association 1832 Independent[40] Increase 194,147 (2024)[41] Healthcare (doctors) None None
British Orthoptic Society Trade Union 1937 Independent[42] Increase 1,511 (2024) Healthcare (orthopists)
None
Cabin Crew Union 2019 Cannot confirm Decrease 278 (2022)[43] Aviation None None
Care Workers Union 2025 Non-independent Not publicly available[44] Social care None None
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy 1894 Independent[45] Increase 65,165 (2024)[46] Healthcare (physiotherapists)
Cleaners and Allied Independent Workers Union 2016 Independent[47] Increase 1,830 (2023)[48] Cleaning / facilities None None
Cleaners Union 2025 Non-independent Not publicly available[44] Cleaning None None
Communication Workers Union 1995 Independent[28][note 1] Decrease 170,324 (2023)[49] Communications / postal / telecoms / finance
Community 2004 Independent[50] Decrease 43,595 (2024)[51] General membership
Confederation of British Surgery 2017 Cannot confirm Increase 450 (2024)[52] Healthcare (surgeons) None None
Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions[53] 1890 N/A Steady 4 unions (2023)[54] Engineering / shipbuilding / defence
None
Criminal Justice Workers Union 2020 Independent[55] Decrease 1,796 (2023)[56] Prisons / probation / detention None None
Currys Trade Union 2007 Independent[57] Decrease 2,601 (2024)[58] Retail - electronics (Currys staff) None None
Driver and General Union 2014 Cannot confirm Increase 1,193 (2024)[59] Transport - drivers / logistics None None
Educational Institute of Scotland 1847 Independent[28][note 1] Decrease 58,566 (2024)[60] Education - teachers / lecturers
Empower the Workers' Union 2023 Non-independent Increase 271 (2024)[61] General membership (precarious / low-paid workers) None None
Employees General Union 2012 Non-independent Increase 27 (2023)[62] General membership None None
Employees United 2011 Non-independent Increase 232 (2022)[63] General membership None None
Equal Justice the Union 2021 Non-independent Steady 145 (2023)[64] General membership None None
Equality for Workers Union 2014 Independent[65] Decrease 3,972 (2024)[66] General membership None None
Equity 1930 Independent[67] Increase 48,606 (2024)[68] Entertainment / performing arts
FDA 1919 Independent[28][note 1] Increase 24,422 (2024)[69] Public sector - civil service / manager / professionals
Financial Services Union 1918 Independent[70] Decrease 8,651 (2024)[71] Finance / banking ICTU None
Fire and Rescue Services Association 1976 Independent[72] Decrease 1,604 (2024)[73] Firefighters None None
Fire Brigades Union 1918 Independent[74] Decrease 33,717 (2024)[75] Emergency services - firefighters / fire control staff
Fire Officers' Association 1995 Independent[76] Decrease 780 (2024)[77] Emergency services - fire officer / managers None None
G4S Care and Justice Services Staff Association 1999 Non-independent Decrease 1,080 (2023)[78] Private security / prisons / detention (G4S staff) None None
GMB 1924 Independent[79] Decrease 571,497 (2024)[80] General membership
Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association 1944 Independent[81] Decrease 2,894 (2024)[82] Healthcare - hospital doctors
Independent Federation of Nursing in Scotland 1995 Cannot confirm Decrease 395 (2023)[83] Healthcare - nurses None None
Independent Oxfam Union 2024 Cannot confirm Increase 105 (2024)[84] Charity / NGO (Oxfam workers) None None
Independent Pilots Association 1992 Independent[85] Increase 1,020 (2024)[86] Aviation None None
Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain 2012 Independent[87] Increase 7,380 (2024)[88] General membership - precarious/migrant workers None
Industrial Workers of the World 1905 Independent[89] Decrease 3,332 (2023)[90] General membership None None
International Transport Workers' Federation 1896 Cannot confirm Decrease 730 (2023)[91] Transport None None
ISU 1981 Independent[92] Decrease 3,080 (2023)[93] Public sector - immigration / border services None None
Leeds Building Society Colleague Association 2010 Non-independent Increase 1,356 (2024)[94] Finance - building society staff (Leeds Building Society)
None
Libertas 2024 Non-independent Not publicly available[44] General membership None None
Locum Doctors' Association 2005 Cannot Confirm Decrease 447 (2023)[95] Healthcare - locum doctors None None
Musicians' Union 1893 Independent[96] Increase 34,563 (2023)[97] Entertainment
NAPO 1912 Independent[98] Increase 6,345 (2024)[99] Public sector - probabtion and family courts
National Association of Head Teachers 1897 Independent[100] Increase 49,785 (2024)[101] Education - senior staff
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers 1976 Independent[102] Decrease 259,079 (2024)[103] Education - teachers
National Association of Racing Staff 1975 Independent[104] Decrease 7,809 (2024)[105] Stable staff / racing grooms
National Crime Officers Association 2013 Independent[106] Increase 3,666 (2024)[107] Public sector - law enforcement None None
National Education Union 2017 Independent[108] Decrease 487,420 (2024)[109] Education - teachers / lecturers
National Employees Union 2023 Non-independent Not publicly available[44] General Union None None
National House Building Council Staff Association 1974 Independent[110] Decrease 869 (2024)[111] Construction / housing None None
National Society for Education in Art and Design 1888 Independent[112] Increase 3,085 (2024)[113] Education - art and design teachers
National Union of Journalists 1907 Independent[28][note 1] Decrease 23,066 (2024)[114] Journalists / media workers
National Union of Mineworkers 1945 Independent[44] Decrease 196 (2023)[115] Mining
National Union of Mineworkers - South Wales Area 1945 Independent[44] Increase 73 (2024)[116] Mining NUM None
National Union of Professional Foster Carers 2021 Independent[117] Increase 1,735 (2024)[118] Social care - foster carers None None
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers 1990 Independent[28][note 1] Increase 80,521 (2024)[119] Transport - rail / maritime / public transport
Nationwide Group Staff Union 1990 Independent[120] Decrease 12,361 (2024)[121] Finance (Nationwide staff)
Nautilus International 2009 Independent[122] Increase 19,089 (2024)[123] Transport - maritime officers / seafarers
News Union 2000 Cannot confirm Decrease 1,299 (2024)[124] Journalists / boradcasters None None
North of England Zoological Society Staff Association 2006 Non-independent Increase 902 (2024)[125] Chester Zoo staff None None
Palm Paper Staff Association 2008 Non-independent Decrease 117 (2024)[126] Manufacturing - paper industry (Palm Paper staff) None None
Pharmacists' Defence Association Union 2008 Independent[127] Increase 38,024 (2024)[128] Healthcare - pharmacists
None
POA: Professional Trades Union for Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers 1939 Independent[129] Increase 36,715 (2024)[130] Public sector - prison and secure facility staff
Prison Governors Association 1987 Independent[131] Increase 1,079 (2024)[132] Public sector - prison management None None
Professional Cricketers' Association 1967 Independent[133] Decrease 534 (2023)[134] Sport -professional cricket players None
Professional Footballers' Association 1907 Independent[135] Increase 5,834 (2024)[136] Sport - professional football players
Professional Footballers' Association Scotland 2007 Independent[28][note 1] Steady 1,618 (2024)[137] Sport - professional football players
Prospect 2001 Independent[138] Increase 156,904 (2023)[139] General professional & technical - civil service / energy /engineering / heritage / telecoms
Public and Commercial Services Union 1998 Independent[140] Decrease 189,399 (2023)[141] Public sector - civil service and government agencies
Psychotherapy and Counselling Union 2016 Cannot confirm Increase 962 (2024)[142] Healthcare - psychotherapy and counselling professionals
None
Retail Book Association 1919 Independent[143] Decrease 706 (2024)[144] Retail - book and stationery staff None None
Royal College of Midwives 1881 Independent[145] Decrease 48,568 (2023)[146] Healthcare - midwives
Royal College of Nursing 1916 Independent Increase 589,717 (2024)[147] Healthcare - nurses None None
Royal College of Podiatry 1945 Independent[28][note 1] Decrease 8,736 (2023)[148] Healthcare - podiatrists / chiropodists
RSPB Staff Association 1978 Independent[149] Increase 1,216 (2024)[150] Charityworkers None None
Rugby Players' Association 1998 Independent[151] Decrease 590 (2024)[152] Sport - professional rugby players None None
Sales Staff Association 1988 Independent[153] Decrease 209 (2024)[154] Manufacturing / tobacco None None
Scottish Artists Union 2001 Independent[28][note 1] Increase 2,458 (2024)[155] Arts and culture
None
Scottish Secondary Teachers Association 1944 Independent[156] Increase 5,966 (2024)[157] Education - secondary school teachers (Scotland) None
Security Industry Federation 2023 Cannot confirm Increase 405 (2024)[158] Private security workers
None
Skyshare 2011 Non-independent Increase 635 (2023)[159] Netjets Europe flight and cabin crew None None
Social Workers Union 2011 Independent[160] Decrease 15,335 (2024)[161] Social workers
None
Society of Authors 1884 Independent[162] Increase 12,390 (2024)[163] Authors / literary professionals None
Society of Radiographers 1920 Independent[28][note 1] Increase 33,971 (2024)[164] Radiographers
Society of Union Employees 1977 Independent[165] Decrease 434 (2024)[166] Trade Union Workers None None
Solidarity 2005 Cannot confirm Decrease 185 (2024)[167] General Union None None
Solid Trade Union 2022 Independent[168] Increase 15 (2024)[169] General union for employees in the North West of England None None
Stage Directors UK Union 2015 Cannot confirm Increase 471 (2024)[170] Directors None None
Trade Union for Ethnic Minority Social Workers 2021 Cannot confirm Not publicly available[44] General union for ethnic minority social workers None None
Trades Union Congress[note 2] 1868 N/A Steady 48 (2023)[171] Trade union confederation
Transport Salaried Staffs' Association 1897 Independent[28][note 1] Decrease 17,025 (2023)[172] Transport workers
UK Private Hire Drivers Union 2020 Independent[173] Increase 891 (2024)[174] Private hire drivers
None
United Medical Associate Professionals Trade Union 2025 Independent[175] Not publicly available[44] Physician associates / anaesthesia associates / surgical care practitioners None None
Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru (National Association of Teachers of Wales) 1948 Independent[28][note 1] Increase 3,644 (2024)[176] Education (Wales)
Union of General and Volunteer Unions 2019 Cannot confirm Increase 354 (2024)[177] Voluntary workers None None
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers 1947 Independent[28][note 1] Increase 368,563 (2024)[178] Shop workers
Union Workers' Union 2019 Cannot confirm Increase 212 (2023)[179] Trade union workers None None
Unison 1993 Independent[28][note 1] Increase 1,438,132 (2024)[180] Public service workers
Unite the Union 2007 Independent[28][note 1] Decrease 1,177,292 (2023)[181] General union for private sector workers
United Road Transport Union 1890 Independent[28][note 1] Decrease 7,557 (2024)[182] Transportation / distribution
United Voices of the World 2014 Independent[183] Increase 3,881 (2024)[184] Low paid, precarious and migrant workers None None
University and College Union 2006 Independent[28][note 1] Decrease 119,785 (2024)[185] Education
Union of Pilots, Engineers and Cabin Crew 2023 Cannot confirm Increase 206 (2024)[186] Aviation None None
Walgas 2019 Independent[187] Decrease 113 (2024)[188] General trade union None None
Warwick International Staff Association 2004[189][note 3] Cannot confirm Increase 82 (2022)[190] Warwick Chemicals employees None None
Welsh Rugby Players Association 2003 Cannot confirm Decrease 116 (2023)[191] Welsh rugby players None None
Women's Rugby Association 2021 Cannot confirm Increase 125 (2024) Women rugby players None None
Workers of England Union 1970 Cannot confirm Increase 8,862 (2024)[192] General trade union (England) None None
Writers' Guild of Great Britain 1959 Independent[28][note 1] Decrease 3,074 (2024)[193] Writing
Yourmate Union 2022 Cannot confirm Not publicly available[44] General trade union None None
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Historical unions

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    Both the TUC and STUC require unions to be independent to be affiliated.
  2. [2]
    Though listed as a trade union on the COs register, the TUC is actually a confederation with each member listed being a separate affiliated union.
  3. [3]
    It is possible that WISA was founded prior to 2004. Please amend if an official founding date can be found.

References

External links

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