Unions remain as important as ever in today's workplaces

For more than 150 years, unions have been at the forefront of securing better pay, safer workplaces, and stronger rights for workers. But in 2025, with a cost-of-living crisis still affecting millions, insecure work on the rise, and workplace protections under scrutiny, joining a union is more important than ever.

HeartUnions Week, running from 10-16 February, is an opportunity to celebrate the power of collective action and encourage those who aren’t yet union members to sign up. It’s a chance to showcase the vital work unions do every day to improve wages, job security, and working conditions across the UK. Whether through workplace stalls, rallies, social media campaigns, or recruitment events, union members will be spreading the message: if you want to make work pay, it’s time to join a union. 

This year’s campaign is closely tied to the ongoing push for fair pay and stronger rights at work. The government’s Make Work Pay agenda, developed with unions, is making its way through Parliament, promising the biggest expansion of employment rights in a generation. This includes tackling exploitative contracts, strengthening protections against unfair dismissal, and ensuring workers have a real voice in the workplace. These changes wouldn’t be happening without unions – they are the driving force behind policies that put workers first. 

But winning new rights in Westminster is only part of the battle. The real challenge is making sure these rights are enforced in workplaces across the country – and that’s where union membership makes all the difference. 

The reality is clear: workers in unionised workplaces earn more, have better conditions, and are far more likely to have job security. Research shows that union members earn significantly more over their lifetimes and benefit from stronger protections against discrimination and unsafe working conditions. 

Too many people still believe that unions are only for certain industries or specific types of jobs. The truth is, unions represent workers in almost every sector – from retail and hospitality to transport, education, and the gig economy. No matter where you work, there’s a union for you, and finding one has never been easier. The TUC’s online union finder can help match workers with the right union for their industry, making joining simple and accessible. 

HeartUnions Week is also about inspiring action. Union branches across the country will be hosting workplace events, running street stalls, and mobilising members to spread the word. 

The challenges facing working people in 2025 are significant, but history shows that when workers stand together, we win. From securing paid holiday and maternity leave to fighting for fair wages and workplace safety, unions have always been the best line of defence for working people.

This HeartUnions Week, the message is simple: if you want better pay, better rights, and a better future at work, it’s time to join a union. Because when we stand together, we win.

This article was first published in the North East Journal, Monday 10 February 2025