Britain's unions

The following member organisations are listed alphabetically by acronym. Membership figures are based on those given to the TUC as at January 2006.

TUC membership now stands at 58 unions, representing nearly six and a half million people (For previous years' total membership figures, Presidents of Congress and TUC General Secretaries, please click here).

Want to join a union?

There are many reasons for joining a union. To find the right union for you and your job, you can call the TUC's know your rights line 0870 600 4 882 (national rate, 8am - 9pm), fill in our online form or use workSMART's online tools to help you choose.

Whilst TUC unions represent the vast majority of trade unionists in Britain there are a number of unions which are not affiliated. Most of these are small organisations representing specialist staff and in many cases employees of a particular organisation, there are however some substantial organisations which are outside the TUC. These include the Police Federation which is barred by law from affiliating to the TUC. The government appointed Certification Officer maintains a list of all unions and employers organisations.

A Back to top Accord Simmons House, 46 Old Bath Road, Charvil, Reading, Berks, RG10 9QR Tel  0118934 1808 Fax 0118 932 0208 Email info@AccordHQ.org Web www.accord-myunion.org General secretary  Gen sec Ged Nichols Main trades the Halifax Bank of Scotland Group (HBOS) Membership  m 8,653 f 18,824 total 27,477 ACM Association for College Management 35 The Point, Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 7QU Tel  01858461110 Fax 01858461366 Email admin@acm.uk.com Web www.acm.uk.com General secretary  Peter Pendle Main trades representing managers in the learning and skills sector Membership  m 1,756 f 2,097 total 3,864 Advance 2nd floor, 16/17 High Street, Tring, Herts HP23 5AH Tel  01442891122 Fax 01442891133 Email info@advance-union.org Web www.advance-union.org General secretary  Linda Rolph Main trades All staff employed in the Abbey and Santander UK based companies Membership  m 1,760 f 5,456 total 7,216 AEP Association of Educational Psychologists 26 The Avenue, Durham DH1 4ED Tel  0191384 9512 Fax 0191 386 5287 Email sao@aep.org.uk Web www.aep.org.uk General secretary  Charles Ward Main trades educational psychologists in local educational authorities and other public and private organisations (England, Wales & Northern Ireland) Membership  m 772 f 2,303 total 3,075 AFA Association of Flight Attendants AFA Council 07, United Airlines Cargo Centre, Shoreham Road East, Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middx, TW6 3UA Tel  0208276 6723 Email afalhr@unitedafa.org Web www.afalhr.org.uk General secretary  Saad Bhatkar Main trades airline cabin crew ASLEF Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen 9 Arkwright Road, London NW3 6AB Tel  0207317 8600 Fax 0207794 6406 Email info@aslef.org.uk Web www.aslef.org.uk General secretary  Keith Norman Main trades railways (drivers, operational supervisors and staff) Membership  m 15,906 f 576 total 16,482 Aspect Woolley Hall, Woolley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF4 2JR Tel  01226383 428 Fax 01226383 427 Email admin@aspect.org.uk Web www.aspect.org.uk General secretary  John Chowcat LI.B (Hons) The recognised specialist union for school improvement professionals Membership  m 1,772 f 2,197 total 3,969 ATL Association of Teachers and Lecturers 7 Northumberland Street, London WC2N 5RD Tel  0207930 6441 Fax 020 7930 1359 Email info@atl.org.uk Web www.atl.org.uk General secretary  Dr Mary Bousted Main trades teachers, headteachers, lecturers and teaching support staff in nursery, primary, secondary schools, sixth form and further education colleges Membership  m 30,416 f 87,621 total 118,037 B Back to top BACM-TEAM British Association of Colliery Management - Technical, Energy and Administrative Management 6A South Parade, Doncaster DN1 2DY Tel  01302815 551 Fax 01302815 552 Email gs@bacmteam.org.uk Web www.bacmteam.org.uk General secretary  Patrick Carragher Membership  m 2,792 f 171 total 2,963 BALPA British Air Line Pilots Association BALPA House, 5 Heathrow Boulevard, 278 Bath Road, West Drayton, UB7 0DQ Tel  0208476 4000 Fax 0208476 4077 Email balpa@balpa.org Web www.balpa.org.uk General secretary  Jim McAuslan Main trades airline pilots, winchmen and flight engineers (commercial) Membership  m 8,712 f 419 total 9,131 BDA British Dietetic Association 5th Floor, Charles House, 148/149 Gt Charles Street, Birmingham B3 3HT Tel  0121200 8010 Fax 0121200 8081 Email ir@bda.uk.com Web www.bda.uk.com General secretary  Head of employment relations Debbie O'Rourke Main trades the science and practice of dietetics in the private and public sector Membership  m 178 f 5,590 total 5,768 BECTU Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union 373-377 Clapham Road, London, SW9 9BT Tel  0207346 0900 Email info@bectu.org.uk Web www.bectu.org.uk General secretary  Gerry Morrissey Main trades broadcasting, film, video, theatre, cinema and related sectors Membership  m 18,148 f 8,395 total 26,543 BFAWU Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union Stanborough House, Great North Road, Stanborough, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL8 7TA Tel  01707260 150 Fax 01707261 570 Email bfawuho@aol.com Web www.bfawu.org General secretary  Joe Marino Main trades food BOS TU British Orthoptic Society Trade Union Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HX Tel  0207387 7992 Fax 0207383 2584 Email bos@orthoptics.org.uk Web www.orthoptics.org.uk Membership email  membership@orthoptics.org.uk General secretary  Employment relations officer Rosie Auld Main trades orthoptists Membership  m 38 f 1,005 total 1,043 BSU Britannia Staff Union Court Lodge, Leonard Street, Leek, Staffordshire ST 13 5JP Tel  01538399 627 Fax 01538371 342 Email bsu@themail.co.uk Web www.britanniasu.org.uk General secretary  John Stoddard Main trades finance sector union representing staff working in Britannia Building Society and its group of companies Membership  m 862 f 2,331 total 3,193 C Back to top CDNA Community and District Nursing Association Thames Valley University, Walpole House 18-22 Bond Street, Ealing, London W5 5AA Tel  0208231 0180 Fax 0208231 0187 Email info@cdnaonline.org Web www.cdnaonline.org General secretary  Chair, Rowena Smith Main trades community and district nurses, health care assistants and everyone working within community health Membership  m 158 f 3,605 total 3,763 Community Swinton House, 324 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8DD Tel  0207239 1200 Fax 0207278 8378 Email info@community-tu.org Web www.community-tu.org General secretary  Michael Leahy OBE Main trades industries in and around steel and metal, knitwear, lace, textiles, hosiery, dyeing and finishing, footwear and leather, gloving, made-up leather goods The Union for Life Membership  m 55,644 f 11,844 total 67,488 Connect 30 St George's Road, Wimbledon SW19 4BD Tel  0208971 6000 Fax 0208971 6002 Email union@connectuk.org Web www.connectuk.org General secretary  Adrian Askew Main trades telecommunications, information technology and related industries The union for professionals in communications Membership  m 15,646 f 3,826 total 19,472 CSMTS Card Setting Machine Tenters Society 48 Scar End Lane, Staincliffe, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF13 4NY Tel  01924400 206 Fax 01924 400 206 General secretary  Anthony John Moorhouse CSP Chartered Society of Physiotherapy 14 Bedford Row, London WC1R 4ED Tel  0207306 6666 Fax 020 7306 6611 Email enquiries@csp.org.uk Web www.csp.org.uk General secretary  Director of employment relations Lesley Mercer Membership  m 4,030 f 31,020 total 35,050 CWU Communication Workers Union 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1RX Tel  0208971 7200 Fax 0208971 7300 Email info@cwu.org Web www.cwu.org General secretary  Gen sec Billy Hayes Main trades Royal Mail Group, British Telecom and other telephone companies, Cable TV, Accenture HR Services, the Alliance and Leicester and other related industries Membership  m 191,118 f 47,699 total 240,817 D Back to top DGSU Derbyshire Group Staff Union The Lodge, Duffield Hall, Derbyshire, DE56 1AG Tel  01332844396 Email deirdre.smith@dgsu.org.uk General secretary  Chair Deidre Smith Membership  m 114 f 390 total 504 DSA Diageo Staff Association Sun Works Cottage, Park Royal Brewery, London NW10 7RR Tel  0208978 6069 Email diageo.staff.association@diageo.com Main trades Diageo group of companies Membership  m 255, f 153 total 408 E Back to top EIS Educational Institute of Scotland 46 Moray Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BH Tel  0131225 6244 Fax 0131220 3151 Email enquiries@eis.org.uk Web www.eis.org.uk General secretary  Ronald A Smith Main trades teachers, lecturers, associated educational personnel (Scotland) Membership  m 14,470 f 44,359 total 58,829 Equity Guild House, Upper St Martin's Lane, London WC2H 9EG Tel  0207379 6000 Fax 0207379 7001 Email info@equity.org.uk Web www.equity.org.uk General secretary  Christine Payne Main trades performance workers in theatre, film television, radio and variety Membership  m 18,085 f 17,857 total 35,942 F Back to top FBU Fire Brigades Union Bradley House, 68 Coombe Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT2 7AE Tel  0208541 1765 Fax 0208546 5187 Email office@fbu.org.uk Web www.fbu.org.uk General secretary  Matt Wrack Main trades local authority fire brigades Membership  m 43,467 f 2,372 total 45,839 FDA 8 Leake Street, London SE1 7NN Tel  0207401 5555 Fax 0207401 5500 Email head-office@fda.org.uk Web www.fda.org.uk General secretary  Jonathan Baume Main trades civil service, public bodies and NHS The union of choice for senior public sector managers and professionals Membership  m 9,519 f 7,543 total 17,062 G Back to top GMB 22/24 Worple Road, London SW19 4DD Tel  0208947 3131 Fax 0208944 6552 Email info@gmb.org.uk Web www.gmb.org.uk General secretary  Paul Kenny Main trades public services - primarily NHS, local government, care education; also engineering, construction, shipbuilding, energy, catering, security, civil air transport, aerospace, defence, clothing, textiles, retail, hotel, chemicals, utilities, offshore, food production and distribution Britain's General Union Membership  m 327,512 f 248,380 total 575,892 H Back to top HCSA Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association 1 Kingsclere Road, Overton, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG25 3JA Tel  01256771 777 Fax 01256770 999 Email conspec@hcsa.com Web www.hcsa.com General secretary  Stephen Campion Main trades hospital consultants, associate specialists, SpR grade and staff grade Membership  m 2,612 f 476 total 3,088 M Back to top MU Musicians' Union 60/62 Clapham Road, London SW9 0JJ Tel  0207582 5566 Fax 0207582 9805 Email info@musiciansunion.org.uk Web www.musiciansunion.org.uk General secretary  Gen sec John Smith Main trades employed and self-employed musicians including live and recording artists, writers, composers and teachers Membership  m 23,289 f 8,352 total 32,461 N Back to top NACO National Association of Co-operative Officials 6a Clarendon Place, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 2QZ Tel  0161351 7900 Fax 0161366 6800 Email initials@nacoco-op.org Web www.nacoco-op.org General secretary  Neil Buist Main trades retail distribution, insurance, dairy industry, funeral services, motor trades (retail), retail pharmacy, travel industry, agriculture Membership  m 1,573 f 563 total 2,136 NACODS National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers Wadsworth House, 130-132 Doncaster Road Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 1TP Tel  01226203 743 Fax 01226295 563 Email natnacods@aol.com General secretary  Ian Parker Main trades mining Napo 4 Chivalry Road, London SW11 1HT Tel  0207223 4887 Fax 0207223 3503 Email info@napo.org.uk Web www.napo.org.uk General secretary  Judy McKnight Main trades probation offiers, including hostel assistant wardens and community service sessional supervisors and family court staff The Trade Union and Professional Association for Family Court and Probation Staff Membership  m 2,928 f 6,125 total 9,053 NASUWT National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers 5 King Street, London WC2E 8SD Tel  0207420 9670 Fax 0207420 9679 Email nasuwt@mail.nasuwt.org.uk Web www.teachersunion.org.uk Membership email  membership@mail.nasuwt.org.uk General secretary  Chris Keates Main trades education Represents teachers and is the only TUC affiliated teachers' union to organise across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Membership  m 73,867 f 177,896 total 251,763 Nautilus UK Oceanair House, 750/760 High Road, London E11 3BB Tel  0208989 6677 Fax 0208530 1015 Email enquiries@nautilusuk.org Web www.nautilusuk.org General secretary  Brian Orrell Main trades merchant navy and all related areas Membership  m 16,723 f 335 total 17,058 NGSU Nationwide Group Staff Union Middleton Farmhouse, 37 Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, Oxon OX17 2QT Tel  01295710 767 Fax 01295712 580 Email ngsu@ngsu.org.uk Web www.ngsu.org.uk General secretary  Tim Poil Main trades all staff within the Nationwide Building Society Group, including Nationwide, Nationwide International Ltd, Nationwide Life Ltd, Nationwide Trust Ltd and UCB Home Loans Membership  m 3,419 f 9,208 total 12,627 NUJ National Union of Journalists Headland House, 308 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8DP Tel  0207278 7916 Fax 0207837 8143 Email info@nuj.org.uk Web www.nuj.org.uk General secretary  Jeremy Dear Main trades journalists, photographers, new media and PR Membership  m 18,600 f 12,400 total 31,000 NUM National Union of Mineworkers Miners' Offices, 2 Huddersfield Rd, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2LS Tel  01226215 555 Fax 01226215 561 Email chris.kitchen@num.org.uk Web www.num.org.uk General secretary  Chris Kitchen Main trades coal mining NUT National Union of Teachers Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD Tel  0207388 6191 Fax 0207387 8458 Web www.teachers.org.uk General secretary  Christine Blower (acting) Main trades teachers Membership  m 64,878 f 205,558 total 270,436 P Back to top PCS Public and Commercial Services Union 160 Falcon Road, London SW11 2LN Tel  0207924 2727 Fax 0207924 1847 Web www.pcs.org.uk General secretary  Mark Serwotka Main trades government departments and agencies, public bodies, private sector information technology and other service companies Membership  m 123,810 f 186,686 total total 311,274 PFA Professional Footballers' Association 20 Oxford Court, Bishopsgate, Manchester M2 3WQ Tel  0161236 0575 Fax 0161228 7229 Email info@thepfa.co.uk Web www.givemefootball.com General secretary  Gordon Taylor, BSc(Econ), HonDArt, Hon MA Main trades professional football POA Prison Officers' Association Cronin House, 245 Church Street, London N9 9HW Tel  0208803 0255 Fax 0208803 1761 Web www.poauk.org.uk General secretary  Brian Caton Main trades persons employed in any penal or secure establishment or special hospital as a prison officer, a nursing grade, a non-industrial stores grade and NHS secure forensic staff Membership  m 26,684 f 9,088 total 35,772 Prospect New Prospect House, 8 Leake Street, London, SE1 7NN Tel  0207902 6600 Fax 0207902 6667 Email enquiries@prospect.org.uk Web www.prospect.org.uk General secretary  Paul Noon Main trades engineering, scientific, managerial & professional staff in agriculture, defence, electricity supply, energy, environment, health & safety, heritage, industry, law & order, shipbuilding, transport Membership  m 79,695 f 21,837 total 101,532 R Back to top RMT National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD Tel  0207387 4771 Fax 0207387 4123 Web www.rmt.org.uk General secretary  Bob Crow Main trades railways and shipping, underground, road transport Membership  m 65,952 f 8,587 total 74,539 S Back to top SCP Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists 1 Fellmongers Path, Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 3LY Tel  0845450 3720 Fax 0845450 3721 Email enq@scpod.org Web www.feetforlife.org General secretary  Chief executive Ms Joanna Brown Membership  m 2,412 f 6,183 total 8,595 SoR Society of Radiographers 207 Providence Square, Mill Street, London SE1 2EW Tel  0207740 7200 Fax 0207740 7233 Web www.sor.org General secretary  Chief exec officer Richard Evans Main trades National Health Service Membership  m 2,553 f 14,285 total 16,838 SURGE 1 Providence Place Skipton North Yorkshire BD23 1HG Tel  01756692000 Fax 08706013230 Email Brian.McDaid@hml.co.uk General secretary  Chair Brian McDaid Main trades the unions representing staff employed by the Skipton Building Society and wholely owned subsidiaries The union for staff of the Skipton Building Society Membership  m 484 f 882 total 1,366 T Back to top TSSA Transport Salaried Staffs' Association Walkden House, 10 Melton Street, London NW1 2EJ Tel  0207387 2101 Fax 0207383 0656 Email enquiries@tssa.org.uk Web www.tssa.org.uk General secretary  Gerry Doherty Main trades administrative, clerical, supervisory, managerial, professional and technical employees of railways, London Underground, buses, road haulage, port authorities and waterways in Great Britain and Ireland. Also employees in the travel trade, hotel and catering industries Membership  m 20,835 f 8,396 total 29,231 U Back to top UBAC H13, PO Box 88, Croft Road, Crossflatts, Bingley BD16 2UA Tel  07721978154 Fax 07747756214 Email ubac@bbg.co.uk General secretary  David Matthews Main trades Represents staff in the Bradford and Bingley Group and Alltel Mortgage Solutions Membership  m 538 f 1,055 total 1,593 UCAC Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru Pen Roc, Rhodfa'r Môr, Aberystwyth, SY23 2AZ Tel  01970639 950 Fax 01970626 765 Email ucac@athrawon.com Web www.athrawon.com General secretary  Gruff Hughes Main trades education - teachers and lecturers Membership  m 892 f 3,118 total 4,010 UCATT Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians UCATT House, 177 Abbeville Road, London SW4 9RL Tel  0207622 2442 Fax 0207720 4081 Email info@ucatt.org.uk Web www.ucatt.org.uk General secretary  Alan Ritchie Main trades construction and building Membership  m 125,599 f 3,315 total 128,914 UCU University and College Union 27 Britannia Street, London WC1X 9JP Tel  0207837 3636 Fax 0207837 4403 Email hq@ucu.org.uk Web www.ucu.org.uk General secretary  Sally Hunt Main trades academic and academic related staff in higher education, further education, adult education, land-based education and prison education Membership  m 61,283 f 54,124 total 117,804 UNISON UNISON, 1 Mabledon Place, London, WC1H 9AJ Tel  0845355 0845 Fax 0207551 1101 Web www.unison.org.uk General secretary  Dave Prentis Main trades local government, health care, the water, gas and electricity industries, further and higher education, schools, transport, voluntary sector, housing associations, police support staff Membership  m 398,644 f 944,356 total 1,343,000 Unite Amicus Section: 35 King Street, London, WC2E 8JG. TGWU section: Transport House, 128 Theobald's Road, Holborn, London WC1X 8TN Tel  02074208900 (Amicus) 020 76112500 (TGWU) Fax 02072404723 (Amicus) 020 76112555 (TGWU) Web www.unitetheunion.org.uk General secretary  Joint Gen Secs Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson Main trades manufacturing, engineering, energy, construction, IT, defence aerospace, motor industry, civil aviation, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, steel and metals, shipbuilding, scientists, technologists, professional and managerial staff, electronics and telecommunications, tobacco, food and drink, textiles, ceramics, paper, printing, professional staff in universities, commercial sales, the voluntary sector, banking and financial services, and the National Health Service, administrative, clerical, technical and supervisory; agriculture; building, construction and civil engineering; chemical, oil and rubber manufacture; civil air transport; docks and waterways; food, drink and tobacco; general workers; passenger services; power and engineering; public services; road transport commercial; textiles; vehicle building and automotive. Unite is the new general union, created in 2007 from the merger of the TGWU and Amicus. Membership  m 1,508,318 f 433,292 total 1,941,610 Unity Hillcrest House, Garth Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 2AB Tel  01782272 755 Fax 01782284 902 Web www.unitytheunion.org.uk General secretary  Geoff Bagnall Main trades the ceramics industry (all areas) Membership  m 4,704 f 2,535 total 7,239 URTU United Road Transport Union Almond House, Oak Green, Stanley Green Business Park, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 6QL Tel  0800526639 Fax 0161861 0976 Email info@urtu.com Web www.urtu.com General secretary  Robert Monks Main trades drivers, warehousing, ancillary workers in the logistics and food sectors USDAW Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers 188 Wilmslow Road, Manchester M14 6LJ Tel  0161224 2804 Fax 0161257 2566 Email enquiries@usdaw.org.uk Web www.usdaw.org.uk General secretary  John Hannett Main trades retail, distributive, food processing and manufacturing, laundries, catering, chemical processing, pharmaceutical, home shopping, warehouses, insurance agents, clerical, milkround and dairy process, call centres Membership  m 143,935 f 197,356 total 341,291 W Back to top WGGB The Writers' Guild of Great Britain 17 Britannia Street, London, WC1X 9JN Tel  0207833 0777 Fax 0207833 4777 Email admin@writersguild.org.uk Web www.writersguild.org.uk General secretary  Bernie Corbett Main trades television, radio, film, books, theatre and multimedia Y Back to top YISA Yorkshire Independent Staff Association c/o Yorkshire Building Society, Yorkshire House, Yorkshire Drive, Rooley Lane, Bradford BD5 8LJ Tel  01274472453 Email kmwatson@ybs.co.uk General secretary  Karen Watson Membership  m 389 f 860 total 1,249