Unions

Created: 2022-12-28
Status: #soil
Last Edited: 2022-12-28
Topic: society politics

What is the history of Trade unionism in the UK?

Trade unionism in the UK has a long and complex history. Trade unions have been in existence since the 19th century, when the first trade unions were created in response to the industrial revolution, with the primary purpose of providing collective representation for workers and protecting their rights.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) was formed in 1887 and was one of the most influential trade unions in the country. It played a critical role in a number of important events including: The General Strike (1926), The Winter of Discontent (1978-79) and The Miners’ Strike (1984-85).

The emergence of New Labour in 1997 saw a shift away from trade union power, as legislation such as the Trade Union Act 2016 sought to reduce their influence over industry. In recent years, there has been an increase in membership amongst younger people, but trade unionism still remains largely dominated by older generations.

Despite this, trade unions are still an important force in British politics and have been involved in campaigns to improve working conditions, pay and safety standards. They have also sought to protect workers’ rights from austerity measures imposed by governments since 2008.

What rights have unions won for UK workers?

Trade unions have won a number of rights for workers in the UK, including:

• The right to join a union and be represented by it.
• The right to take part in collective bargaining and negotiate terms of employment.
• The right to strike in order to secure better pay and working conditions.
• The right to receive compensation if injured at work.
• The right to be protected from unfair dismissal.
• The right to receive redundancy pay when made redundant.
• The right to receive equal pay for work of equal value.
• The right to reasonable notice when leaving a job.

What are the most significant trade union moments from the 20th and 21st centuries?

• The 1926 General Strike: The General Strike of 1926 was a nine-day stoppage of work in the UK, organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). It was in response to wage cuts, and saw over 1.5 million workers take part.

• The 1978-79 Winter of Discontent: During this period, there was a wave of industrial unrest across the country, as trade unions demanded higher pay for public sector workers. This included a series of strikes from ambulance drivers, council workers and refuse collectors.

• The 1984-85 Miners' Strike: This strike saw miners from across the UK take industrial action in opposition to plans by the Conservative government to close down coal mines. It lasted for 12 months and resulted in a significant victory for the miners, as they successfully forced the government to back down on its plans.

• The 1997 Trade Union Reform Act: This legislation sought to reduce trade union power by introducing changes such as increasing the voting threshold needed to call a strike and restricting access to picketing.

• 2008 Financial Crisis: During this period, trade unions played an important role in campaigning against austerity measures imposed by governments across Europe following the financial crisis.

Significant figures in the trade union movement

• Ernest Bevin: British politician and trade unionist who served as the Minister of Labour during World War II. He was a key figure in the establishment of the National Health Service and played a major role in negotiating with trade unions during the post-war period.

• Jack Jones: British trade union leader who served as General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union from 1969 to 1978. He was an influential figure in the trade union movement and helped to negotiate agreements with employers on pay, working hours and holiday entitlements.

• Arthur Scargill: British trade union leader and politician who served as President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) from 1982 to 2002. He was a key figure in the 1984-85 Miners' Strike and a prominent advocate for left-wing causes throughout his career.

Trade unions in the UK

The UK has a number of major trade unions, including:

• Unite: The UK's largest union, representing over 1.4 million members across all sectors.

• GMB: A general union representing over 600,000 members across all sectors.

• Unison: A public sector union representing over 1.3 million members in the health service, local government and other public services.

• National Union of Students (NUS): The NUS represents the interests of students in higher and further education institutions across the UK.

Teaching unions

The UK also has a number of teaching unions, representing teachers in primary and secondary schools, universities, and further education colleges. These include:

• National Education Union: The National Education Union (NEU) is a merger of two teaching unions – the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL). It represents over 450,000 members in all aspects of education.

• University and College Union: UCU is an independent trade union representing over 120,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, researchers and academic-related staff working in further and higher education across the UK.

• NASUWT: NASUWT is the largest teachers’ union in the UK with over 300,000 members across all sectors of education. It campaigns for better pay and conditions for teachers as well as protecting their rights at work.