Trade unions in the public sector

Public services are among the most heavily unionised parts of the UK workforce. In the NHS the main unions are UNISON, the RCN, the RCM, the BMA, GMB and Unite. In schools they are the NEU, NASUWT, NAHT and ASCL for teachers and leaders, and UNISON, GMB and Unite for support staff. Councils mainly deal with UNISON, GMB and Unite, and the Civil Service with PCS, FDA and Prospect. You have a legal right to join a union, take part in its activities, and be accompanied by a union rep at disciplinary and grievance hearings.

Which union covers which job

Sector	Main unions
NHS clinical staff	RCN (nursing), RCM (midwifery), BMA (doctors), UNISON, GMB, Unite, plus professional bodies such as the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the Society of Radiographers
NHS support and admin	UNISON, GMB, Unite
Teachers and school leaders	NEU, NASUWT, NAHT, ASCL, Voice Community; EIS in Scotland; UCAC in Wales
School support staff	UNISON, GMB, Unite
Councils	UNISON, GMB, Unite
Civil Service	PCS, FDA (senior and specialist grades), Prospect
Fire, prisons and probation	FBU, POA, Napo, UNISON

Police officers cannot join a trade union or take strike action. The Police Federation represents constables, sergeants, inspectors and chief inspectors instead. Police staff and PCSOs can join unions such as UNISON.

Choosing matters most where several unions are recognised. They negotiate pay jointly in bodies like the NHS Staff Council and the NJC, but they differ in subscription rates, professional services and how they take positions in disputes.

What a union does for you

At workplace level, a rep can advise you, help write a grievance, and come to disciplinary, grievance, sickness absence and restructure meetings. Unions usually provide legal advice and representation for work-related problems, including tribunal claims and regulator hearings such as NMC fitness to practise cases. Most also include professional indemnity cover or advice on it, training, and member discounts.

Nationally, recognised unions negotiate pay and terms. NHS Agenda for Change, the NJC Green Book and the Burgundy Book are all collective agreements negotiated by unions and employers. For teachers in England and NHS staff, pay review bodies make recommendations to government, and the unions give evidence to them.

Your legal rights as a member

The law protects you from being refused a job, dismissed or treated badly because you are, or are not, a union member, or because you take part in union activities at an appropriate time. Dismissal for trade union membership or activity is automatically unfair from day one.

You can be accompanied by a union rep or colleague at disciplinary and grievance hearings, whether or not the union is recognised at your workplace. Reps of recognised unions get reasonable paid time off for their duties and training, and members get reasonable time off (not necessarily paid) for union activities. The ACAS code on time off for trade union duties gives guidance.

Unions charge a monthly subscription, usually based on pay. For some unions, part of the subscription covers professional services and is on HMRC’s approved list, which means you can claim tax relief on that part. The professional fees tax relief guide explains how.

Changes to union law in 2025 and 2026

The Employment Rights Act 2025 is changing the legal framework for unions. Measures already in force by 16 October 2026 include:

• repeal of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 at Royal Assent in December 2025
• repeal of most of the Trade Union Act 2016 on 18 February 2026
• simpler trade union recognition from 6 April 2026
• electronic and workplace balloting for statutory union ballots from 25 August 2026

Scheduled next are trade union access and representative rights on 30 October 2026, and a duty for employers to tell workers of their right to join a union in January 2027. The government says future dates may change. The Employment Rights Act 2025 guide tracks them, and the industrial action guide covers strike ballots and pay during action.

Workplace reps and recognition

A recognised union is one that your employer has agreed to negotiate with on pay, hours and holiday, either voluntarily or through the statutory recognition process. Most NHS trusts, councils and maintained schools recognise unions, and academy trusts usually carry the same arrangements across when schools convert. Recognition is what gives reps paid time off and the right to be consulted on redundancies and TUPE transfers.

Reps are ordinary employees who volunteer. Most workplaces have stewards or school reps who deal with individual cases, health and safety reps who can inspect the workplace and investigate accidents, and learning reps who help with training. If your workplace has no rep, the union’s regional office handles cases directly. Becoming a rep yourself gives you legal protection and paid time for training.

Unions also hold indicative and statutory ballots on pay offers. NHS and teacher pay awards are usually put to members in consultative votes, so membership is one way to have a say on whether an offer is accepted.

How to join

Each union has online joining on its website. You will need your employer, job title and pay, and bank details for a direct debit. Some public sector employers still collect subscriptions through payroll (check-off). Reps at your workplace can tell you which union is recognised and who to contact. If a problem comes up before you are covered, ACAS gives free advice, and the grievance guide explains how to raise it yourself.