A trade union is an organised association of workers in a trade, group of trades or profession whose main purpose is to protect and further their rights and interests. This may be done by collective bargaining, for example in respect of terms and conditions of employment, through the adoption of collective agreements with employers and by giving advice and support to trade union members, for example in respect of disciplinary matters.
In order to enjoy all the legal rights available to trade unions, a trade union must be “independent” i.e. be free of employer control and be recognised by the relevant employer. There is an official list and schedule of trade unions maintained by the government’s Certification Officer.
To be able to organise a strike, trade unions must meet a number of conditions. Further information about strikes can be found here.
Published in… Updates: For employers: Trade unions |
Other employment law terms
- ACAS Early Conciliation
- Adoption appointments
- Adoption leave
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Ante-natal care
- Apprenticeship
- Basic award
- Collective consultation
- Compensatory award
- Compromise agreement
- Constructive dismissal
- Contract of employment
- Disciplinary hearing
- Discrimination
- Employee shareholder
- Employment tribunal
- ETO reason
- Flexible working requests
- Grievance
- Gross misconduct
- Harassment
- Industrial action
- Injury to feelings
- Maternity and parental rights
- Maternity leave
- Maternity pay
- Mediation
- Parental leave
- Paternity leave and pay
- Polkey deduction
- Pre-termination negotiations
- Protected characteristics
- Redundancy
- Restrictive covenants
- Settlement agreement
- Shared parental leave
- Staff handbook
- Statutory annual leave
- Strikes
- Study and training rights
- Summary dismissal
- Sunday working
- TUPE
- Unfair dismissal
- Unlawful deductions
- Victimisation
- Whistle-blowing
- Without prejudice
- Working Time Regulations
- Written particulars
- Wrongful dismissal
- Zero hours contracts