 |
AMICUS Amicus is a new union establishing new traditions and structures dedicated to serving the best interests of its members and to improve their standard of living and the quality of their lives though effective relationships with employers and Government. Amicus members work in manufacturing, engineering, energy, construction, IT, defence aerospace, motor industry, civil aviation, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, steel and metals, shipbuilding, scientists, technologists, professional and managerial staff, electronics and telecommunications, tobacco, food and drink, textiles, ceramics, paper, professional staff in universities, commercial sales, the voluntary sector, financial services, and the National Health Service. General Secretaries - Derek Simpson |
 |
Association of Teachers and Lecturers [ATL] ATL represents approximately 160,000 teachers, lecturers, and education support staff. Members work in schools and colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and include classroom teachers, deputy heads, college lecturers, nursery nurses, learning support assistants, classroom assistants, special needs assistants, technicians and librarians/library assistants, but not headteachers or college principals. General Secretary - Dr Mary Bousted |
 |
Association of University Teachers [AUT] Operates from the bottom up, with members of 114 local associations, or branches, which are based in higher education institutions throughout the UK. Representatives from the local associations decide policy and priorities at meetings of the ruling council body. In between council meetings, the AUT is run by its Executive Committee, which is elected from, and by, members. General Secretary - Sally Hunt |
 |
Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union [BECTU] BECTU is the independent union for those working in broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media and allied areas who are primarily based in the United Kingdom. The union represents permanently employed, contract and freelance workers within these sectors. more than 25,000 members. General Secretary - Roger Bolton |
 |
Ceramic and Allied Trades Union [CATU] "The History of CATU can be traced back to the early 19th century. The early days of the union were ones of immense suffering and struggle for the pottery workers. The industry was one of the unhealthiest in the country. Workers were exploited by the “good from oven” deductions and the union was at the forefront of the Chartist movement of the 19th century. From those beginnings CATU has always been one of the most progressive unions in the country, fighting for improvements in the working conditions of its members. From its early days it has been involved on the national stage with members all over the country. Representing members from Scotland to Northern Ireland, down to Worcester and the South of England." General Secretary - Geoff Bagnall |
 |
Communication Workers Union [CWU] The Communication Workers Union (CWU) is the biggest union for the communications industry in the UK with 300,000 members. It was formed in January 1995 when the Union of Communication Workers joined forces with the National Communications Union. CWU members work in the Post Office, BT and other telephone companies, cable TV, Accenture HR Services, the Alliance and Leicester and Girobank. Our members' expertise includes engineering, computing, clerical, mechanical, driving, retail, financial and manual skills. General Secretary - Billy Hayes |
 |
Connect Connect is a campaigning union, representing over 19,000 managers and professionals in the communications industry. General Secretary - Adrian Askew |
 |
EQUITY Equity is the only Trade Union to represent artists from across the entire spectrum of arts and entertainment. Formed in 1930 by a group of West End of London performers, Equity quickly spread to encompass the whole range of professional entertainment so our membership includes actors, singers, dancers, choreographers, stage managers, theatre directors and designers, variety and circus artists, television and radio presenters, walk-on and supporting artists, stunt performers and directors and theatre fight directors. Although we are a Trade Union, Equity is not politically affiliated and so does not make payments to any political party. This puts Equity in the strong position of being able to lobby with impunity governments of all political colours. We are however affiliated to the Trades Unions Congress and Equity delegates attend the annual TUC conference as a means of bringing performers' issues to a wider audience. The main function of Equity is to negotiate minimum terms and conditions of employment throughout the entire world of entertainment and to endeavour to ensure these take account of social and economic changes. We look to the future as well, negotiating agreements to embrace the new and emerging technologies which affect performers so satellite, digital television, new media and so on are all covered, as are the more traditional areas. We also work at national level by lobbying government and other bodies on issues of paramount importance to the membership. In addition we operate at an international level through the Federation of International Artists which Equity helped to establish, the International Committee for Artistic Freedom and through agreements with sister unions overseas. |
 |
Fire Brigades Union [FBU] The FBU represents over 85% of the uniformed staff of the UK fire and service. Our members are frontline public service workers - covering the roles of Firefighter to Area Manager, including emergency fire control staff and firefighters working the retained duty system. The FBU campaigns and lobbies on key issues affecting our members and the public at large. We're working to protect and improve the fire and rescue service, improve safety in the workplace and end discrimination and harassment at work. We are focused on winning for our members, whether they are firefighters working the wholetime or retained duty system, emergency fire control staff, or managers in the UK fire and rescue service. General Secretary - Matt Wrack |
 |
GMB The GMB is a general union of 700,000 people of whom nearly 40% are women. The union today is the sum of a number of mergers of long standing trades unions covering several production and service sectors and trades, and is referred to as "Britain's General Union". 25,000 plus shop stewards; individuals give their time voluntarily to help their work-mates. Backing up our local representatives are full-time officials who negotiate, represent, listen, and advise on our members' behalf. And if necessary we go to court to enforce their rights. Behind the scenes, we provide expertise on employment law, health and safety at work, pensions, Human Resource Management, terms and conditions; indeed if it's to do with the world of work – we are the experts. The GMB is a huge organisation, based in the workplace and the community, with contact and influence in all walks of life. One in every 31 employees in Britain is a member of the GMB which is organised in 34 of the UK's top 50 companies. GMB can provide legal assistance to members on employment matters, including occupational accidents and diseases, unfair dismissal and redundancy, discrimination and equal pay, working time and national minimum wage. Acting General Secretary - Paul Kenny |
 |
Musicians' Union [MU] The M.U. was founded in 1893, and has a proud history of service to musicians of all types. The music profession and the music industry have seen constant evolution and change over the years. And the Musicians' Union has evolved and changed with them, to offer musicians a better service and a democratic organisation. The M.U. believes that without a healthy grass roots scene the music and record industries will stagnate and suffer in the long term. With100 branches throughout the country, the best way to ensure that your town or city provides a vibrant local launch pad for new bands is to get along to regular branch meetings, and use them as a way of developing strategies to persuade local publicans and club owners to promote more live music with fair pay and conditions. General Secretary - John Smith |
 |
NATFHE With 67,000 members NATFHE is the largest lecturers' union, with an effective voice, excellent services and benefits, branches based at the workplace and structures to promote members' sector specific concerns. Members and associates include lecturers, tutors, researchers, learning support staff, trainers, managers, students training to teach in post-school education, freelance consultants and retired members. They work in colleges of further and higher education and new universities, in adult, landbased and prison education, in university for industry centres, training organisations, and private companies. They include full-time, part-time and temporary staff, those working through agencies, freelancers, and students training to teach. General Secretary - Paul Mackney |
 |
National Union of Journalists [NUJ] "Among the biggest and best-established journalists' unions in the world, with 34,000 members. These members cover the whole range of editorial work – staff and freelance, writers and reporters, editors and sub-editors, photographers and illustrators, working in broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, books, on the internet and in public relations. The union was founded in 1907 and has fought for journalists, their pay and conditions, their working rights and their professional freedom ever since. The NUJ has held on to these values through war and peace, boom times and recessions. Despite the attacks in the UK on trade unions and independent journalism, despite the supposed fall in public appreciation of our members' work, we are thriving. The NUJ's membership has been rising steadily for the last four years." General Secretary - Jeremy Dear |
 |
Prison Officers' Association [POA] Formed in 1939 following a long hard fight over many years to establish better pay and working conditions. Until 1919, the Prison Officers and Police Officers of this country were combined in an organisation known as The Police and Prison Officers' Union. Following a strike mainly by the Police Officers, the Prison Officers' were denied the right of making a collective representation to an employing body. Today the Prison Officers' Association has a full seat on the staff-side of the National Whitley Council to look after the interests of Prison Officers together with its own Prison Department Whitley Council. The POA represents all Prison Officer Grades and all Nursing and Ancillary grades in the Special Hospitals (Ashworth, Broadmoor , Rampton and Carstairs). THE POA currently has in excess of a thousand members working in the private sector. General Secretary - Brian Caton |
 |
National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers [RMT] RMT is a progressive, democratic and highly professional trade union. Our 60,000 members hail from almost every sector of the transport industry - from the mainline railway, the underground, shipping, buses and road freight. All of which play a vital role in keeping Britain's people and goods on the move. Protecting and bettering our members' pay and conditions is a key objective for RMT. We negotiate on their behalf with over 150 transport sector companies - using every opportunity to drive home ourpositive agenda for better pay, shorter hours and saferworking conditions. General Secretary - Bob Crow, |
 |
National Union of Teachers [NUT] Our concern is for the proper funding of the education service - for smaller classes, more books and equipment and properly maintained school buildings. For teachers we seek better pay and improved conditions, with time to plan, mark and prepare. Above all, we seek improved educational opportunities for all our children and young people. At the heart of the Union's endeavours is its commitment to the promotion and recognition of the professionalism of teachers. Membership is open only to fully qualified teachers. The NUT is the only teachers' organisation to set such standards for admission. The National Union of Teachers is both a professional association and a trade union. It cares for the children in our schools and for their teachers. The legal and professional services available to members are second to none. Membership brings with it access to the widest range of benefits and service. General Secretary - Doug McAvoy,
|
 |
Public and Commercial Services Union [PCS] PCS is one of the UK's largest trade unions, with 288,000 members. They work in government departments, agencies, public bodies and in a number of private companies, notably in information technology. General Secretary - Mark Serwotka |
 |
Transport and General "Main trades and industries Union with over 900,000 members in every type of workplace, the T&G is the UK’s biggest general union with a long and proud tradition of representing members in the workplace. Since our founding in 1922, all our efforts have been directed towards winning the best possible pay and conditions for our members. You can be sure that at all times we are working for your rights - through our campaigns, by winning new employment rights for all working people, and by establishing a national minimum wage." General Secretary - Tony Woodley |
 |
Transport Salaried Staffs' Association [TSSA] TSSA is an independent, UK-based trade union for the transport and travel trade industries. We have over 32,000 members in the UK and Ireland, working for the railways and associated companies, London Underground/Transport for London, the travel trade, and in shipping, ports and buses. General Secretary - Gerry Doherty |
 |
Trades Union Congress The TUC is the voice of Britain at work. With 69 affiliated unions representing nearly seven million working people from all walks of life, we campaign for a fair deal at work and for social justice at home and abroad. TUC membership now stands at 69 unions, representing nearly 6.7 million people. Trades Union Councils bring together unions to work and campaign around issues affecting working people in their local workplaces and communities. General Secretary - Brendan Barber |
|
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers [USDAW] "Main trades and industries retail, distributive, food processing and manufacturing, laundries, catering, chemical processing, pharmaceutical, football pools, home shopping, warehouses, insurance agents, clerical, milkround and dairy process, call centres." General Secretary - John Hannett |
 |
UNISON "Main trades and industries local government, health care, the water, gas and electricity industries, further and higher education, schools, transport, voluntary sector, housing associations, police support staff." General Secretary - Dave Prentis |
 |
The Writers' Guild of Great Britain [WGGB] WGGB is a trade union for writers working in television, radio, film, theatre, books and multimedia, TUC- affiliated, with over 2,000 members. "The Guild was established in 1958. Its mission, then as now, was to represent writers in all media. For nearly half a century we have been ensuring that writers are properly paid and credited. The media industry may have changed but our philosophy has remained the same. WGGB Minimum Terms Agreements and advice services are safeguards against exploitation. In the Guild writers have created for themselves the strong organisation needed to get a fair deal in today's increasingly competitive and ruthless market." General Secretary - Bernie Corbett |
