This is a list of trade unions in the United Kingdom formed under UK labour law. The criteria for being an independent trade union, free from employer influence and domination, are set out in Section 5 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. The body which oversees unions, and awards a certificate of independence for the purpose of collective bargaining is the Trades Union Certification Officer. For the context and history see Trade unions in the United Kingdom.
Union confederations
Trade unions
The following is a list of trade unions as designated by the Certification Officer, as of 20 December 2025:
Historical unions
- Altogether Builders' Labourers and Constructional Workers' Society
- Amalgamated Association of Carters and Motormen
- Amalgamated Carters, Lorrymen and Motormen's Union
- Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU)
- Amalgamated Marine Workers' Union (AMWU)
- Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (ASCJ)
- Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Machinists, Millwrights, Smiths and Pattern Makers (ASE)
- Amalgamated Society of Foremen Lightermen of River Thames
- Amalgamated Society of Watermen, Lightermen and Bargemen
- Associated Horsemen's Union
- Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians (ACTT, now in BECTU)
- Association of Coastwise Masters, Mates and Engineers
- Association of University Teachers AUT
- Association of Principal Fire Officers
- Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel
- Belfast Breadservers' Association
- Belfast Journeymen Butchers' Association
- Belfast Operative Bakers' Union
- British Association of Colliery Management
- British Seafarers' Union (BSU)
- Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union
- Burnley, Nelson, Rossendale and District Textile Workers' Union
- Cardiff, Penarth and Barry Coal Trimmers' Union
- Chemical Workers' Union
- Civil and Public Services Association (CPSA)
- Community and Youth Workers' Union
- Confederation of Health Service Employees (COHSE)
- Connect (???âÂÂ2010) (now in Prospect)
- Cumberland Enginemen, Boilermen and Electrical Workers' Union
- Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union (DWRGLU)
- Dundee Pilots
- Electricity Supply Staff Association (Dublin)
- Federation of Professional Railway Staff
- File Grinders' Society
- Gibraltar Apprentices and Ex-Apprentices Union
- Gibraltar Confederation of Labour
- Gibraltar Labour Trades Union
- Government Civil Employees' Association
- Grangemouth Pilots' Association
- Greenock Sugar Porters' Association
- Grimsby Steam and Diesel Fishing Vessels Engineers' and Firemen's Union
- Halifax and District Carters' and Motormen's Association
- Humber Amalgamated Steam Trawlers' Engineers, and Firemen's Union
- Imperial War Graves Commission Staff Association
- Institution of Professional Civil Servants
- Irish Mental Hospital Workers' Union
- Irish Union of Hairdressers and Allied Workers
- Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC)
- Iron, Steel and Wood Barge Builders and Helpers Association
- Labour Protection League
- Leith and Granston Pilots
- Liverpool and District Carters' and Motormen's Union
- London Co-operative Mutuality Club Collectors' Association
- Lurgan Hemmers' Veiners' and General Workers' Union
- Manchester Ship Canal Pilots' Association
- Manufacturing Science and Finance (MSF)
- Methil Pilots
- National Amalgamated Coal Workers' Union
- National Amalgamated Labourers' Union
- National Amalgamated Stevedores' and Dockers' Society
- National Amalgamated Union of Enginemen, Firemen, Mechanics, Motormen and Electrical Workers
- National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers
- National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers (South Wales Area)
- National Association of Local Government Officers (NALGO, now in UNISON)
- National Association of Operative Plasterers
- National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education NATFHE (www.natfhe.org.uk). Now amalgamated into the University and College Union (www.ucu.org.uk), along with the AUT
- National Association of Youth Hostel Wardens
- National Federation of SubPostmasters
- National Glass Bottle Makers' Society
- National Glass Workers' Trade Protection Association
- National Union of British Fishermen
- National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers
- National Union of Civil and Public Servants (NUCPS)
- National Union of Co-operative Insurance Society Employees
- National Union of Dock Labourers (NUDL)
- National Union of Docks, Wharves and Shipping Staffs
- National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers
- National Union of Knitwear, Footwear & Apparel Trades (KFAT)
- Miners' Federation of Great Britain
- National Union of Public Employees (NUPE)
- National Union of Railwaymen (NUR)
- National Union of Seamen (NUS)
- National Union of Shale Miners and Oil Workers
- National Union of Ships' Clerks, Grain Weighers and Coalmeters
- National Union of Ship's Stewards (NUSSCBB)
- National Union of Vehicle Builders
- National Union of Vehicle Workers
- National Winding and General Engineers' Society
- North of England Engineers' and Firemen's Amalgamation
- North of England Trimmers' and Teemers Association
- North of Ireland Operative Butchers' and Allied Workers' Association
- North of Scotland Horse and Motormen's Association
- North Wales Craftsmen and General Workers' Union
- North Wales Quarrymen's Union
- Northern Carpet Trades Union
- Northern Ireland Textile Workers' Union
- Northern Textile and Allied Workers' Union
- Operative Bricklayers' Society (OBS)
- Port of Liverpool Staff Association
- Port of London Deal Porters' Union
- Portadown Textile Workers' Union
- Power Loom Tenters' Trade Union of Ireland
- Process and General Workers' Union
- Radcliffe and District Enginemen and Boilermen's Provident Society
- Scottish Busmen's Union
- Scottish Commercial Motormen's Union
- Scottish Farm Servants' Association
- Scottish Primary Teachers' Association (2011âÂÂ2012)
- Scottish Seafishers' Union
- Scottish Slaters, Tilers, Roofers and Cement Workers' Society
- Scottish Textile Workers' Union
- Scottish Transport and General Workers' Union (Docks)
- Scottish Union of Dock Labourers (SUDL)
- Sheffield Amalgamated Union of File Trades
- Shield Guarding Staff Association
- Staff Association for Royal Automobile Club Employees
- Staff Association of Bank of Baroda (UK Region)
- SURGE (Skipton Union Representing Group Employees)
- Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section, now part of Amicus
- Union of Bookmakers Employees
- Union of Kodak Workers
- United Cut Nail Makers of Great Britain Protection Society
- UFS
- United Fishermen's Union
- United Order of General Labourers
- United Vehicle Workers
- Unity
- Watermen, Lightermen, Tugmen and Bargemen's Union
- Weaver Watermen's Association
- Whatman Staff Association
- Workers' Union
- Yorkshire Independent Staff Association
See also
Notes
References
External links