Joining a trade union
Trade union membership: your employment rights
You have the right to:
- choose to join or not join a union
- decide to leave or remain a member of a union
- belong to the union you choose, even if it’s not the one your employer negotiates with on pay, terms and conditions
- belong to more than one union
Your employer is not allowed to:
- offer you a benefit to leave a trade union
- threaten to treat you unfairly if you do not leave a union
Refusing to employ you for trade union membership reasons
An employer or employment agency is not allowed to insist that you:
- join or leave a trade union
- leave one union for another
Dismissal for trade union membership reasons
Your employer is not allowed to dismiss you or choose you for redundancy because you:
- are or want to be a union member
- are not or do not want to be a union member
- took part or wanted to take part in union activities
Other unfavourable treatment
Your employer must not treat you unfavourably (for example refusing you promotion or training opportunities) if you:
- join a union
- take part in its meetings
- leave a union
What to do if you have a problem
You may be able to use a grievance procedure or go to an employment tribunal if you think your employer has treated you unfairly because of your trade union membership.
Contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) if you have any questions about trade union membership.