What is a trade union?

A trade union is an organisation made up of members (a membership-based

organisation) and its membership must be made up mainly of workers. One of a trade
union's main aims is to protect and advance the interests of its members in the workplace.
Most trade unions are independent of any employer. However, trade unions try to develop
close working relationships with employers. This can sometimes take the form of a
partnership agreement between the employer and the trade union which identifies their
common interests and objectives.
Trade unions:
• negotiate agreements with employers on pay and
conditions
• discuss major changes to the workplace such as
large scale redundancy
• discuss their members' concerns with employers
• accompany their members in disciplinary and
grievance meetings
• provide their members with legal and financial
advice
• provide education facilities and certain consumer
benefits such as discounted insurance

Trade union membership: your right to choose

By law, your employer cannot penalise you if you choose to join, or not to join, a trade union.
Similarly, if you are already a trade union member, your employer must not penalise you if
you choose to leave the union or to continue in membership.

Trade union membership benefits

Trade unions can provide many benefits for their members. Some workers join a trade union
because they believe that a trade union can:
• negotiate better pay
• negotiate better working conditions, such as more
holidays or improved health and safety
• provide training for new skills
• promote lifelong learning provide legal and financial
advice
• provide various consumer benefits (eg discount
offers or vouchers for shops and services)
• provide help and advice with problems at work
Trade unions may also represent their members' interests outside the workplace. For
example, trade unions may actively lobby the government, public bodies, the European Union
(EU) or others for policies which promote their objectives.
To find out what your trade union provides, you can check your trade union's website or
members' handbook, or speak to a trade union representative in your workplace.

How to join a trade union

Where a trade union is well-established at a workplace, some employees may act as local
trade union representatives. If you are employed in such a workplace and want to join a
trade union, you could approach a trade union representative, such as a shop steward or a
trade union learning representative, for more information.
You do not have to be a member of a trade union which your employer recognises for
negotiating pay and conditions. However, if you join a trade union other than the one your
employer recognises, your trade union may have less say in issues that affect you in the
workplace.
Your employer cannot insist that you join a particular trade union, and must not discipline or
dismiss you for joining a trade union of your choice or for choosing not to be a trade union
member.