What is a Trade Union?

A Trade Union is a group of workers who have joined together to achieve common goals such as providing assistance and services to their members, collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions for all workers, working to improve the quality of public services, political campaigning and industrial action.

What do Trade Unions do?

Unions train and organise workplace representatives who help union members with the problems they face at work.

Reps provide support and advice and campaign for better conditions and pay.

Unions have brought significant changes to society, including:

• a national minimum wage;
• the abolition of child labour;
• improved worker safety;
• minimum holiday and sickness entitlements;
• improving living standards by reducing the number of hours in the working week and encouraging a healthy work/life balance;
• improved parental leave;
• equality legislation;
• better protection of migrant workers and a reduction in exploitation;

Unions have also made thousands of local agreements on issues affecting individual workplaces following consultation, negotiation and bargaining. That’s where your local branch, University of Bristol Unison, comes in.

Your local Branch

University of Bristol Unison is here for you. If you face any issues in the workplace, or feel there is something that should be brought to the University’s attention, we’d love to hear from you.

Have a look at who your branch officers are, or take a look at our blog to see what we’ve been up to.

If you’re not yet a member, talk to one of the Branch Officers or your colleagues about what it’s like, and sign up today!