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Our affiliates

We have 40 affiliated trade unions representing workers from every sector and industry in Scotland. If you want to know what union you should join, please visit the TUC’s Union Finder here but if you are still unsure, please get in touch with us.

We have 19 Trades Union Councils affiliated for session 2024/25. To read more about the work our Trades Union Councils, please click here. 

Accord

The modern trade union for staff in Lloyds Banking Group, TSB & subsidiary companies.

AEGIS the Union

Aegis looks after workers' rights at work in the Finance Industry where we have a recognition agreement with the employers.

Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF)

ASLEF is Britain's trade union for train drivers. Its 21,000+ members are employed in the train operating companies, the freight companies, London Underground and Light Rapid Transport.

Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP)

AEP is the trade union and professional association for Educational Psychologists in the United Kingdom.

Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU)

BFAWU is the only independent Trade Union operating within the food industry and has been representing working people since 1847.

BALPA

The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) is the professional association and registered trade union established to represent the interests of all UK pilots.

British Dietetic Association (BDA)

The BDA is the only body in the UK representing the whole of the dietetic workforce.

British Orthoptic Society

The British and Irish Orthoptic Society is the professional body for Orthoptists.

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is the professional, educational and trade union body for the UK's 64,000 chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and support workers.

Communication Workers’ Union (CWU)

The Communication Workers Union is the biggest union for the communications industry in the UK with almost 200,000 members.

Community

Community represents and supports workers in every sector of the UK economy from steelworkers to office workers to the self-employed.

Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)

The EIS is the largest teaching union in Scotland. Founded in 1847 the EIS is also the oldest teaching union in the world.

Equity

Equity is the performing arts and entertainment trade union.

FDA

The FDA is the trade union representing professionals and managers in public service.

Fire Brigades Union (FBU)

The Fire Brigades Union is the democratic, professional voice of firefighters and other workers within fire and rescue services across the UK.

GMB

The GMB is a general trade union in the United Kingdom which has more than 460,000 members. Its members work in nearly all industrial sectors, in retail, security, schools, distribution, the utilities, social care, the National Health Service, ambulance service and local government.

Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA)

HCSA is a nationally recognised professional association and trade union in the UK dedicated solely to hospital consultants, specialty doctors and core/specialty hospital doctors in training and junior doctors.

Musicians’ Union (MU)

The Musicians' Union is an organisation which represents over 30,000 musicians working in all sectors of the British music business.

NASUWT

The NASUWT, the Teachers’ Union, provides unrivalled protection, benefits and support for teachers, from professional advice and legal support to High Street discounts and free training.

National Association of Racing Staff (NARS)

NARS is a trade union for stable staff working in the horse racing industry.

National Union of Journalists (NUJ)

NUJ is one of the largest independent journalists' unions in the world. NUJ members work across the media, from newspapers, broadcasting and book publishing to magazines, websites, mobile devices, social media and PR agencies. 

National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT)

The RMT is a progressive, democratic and highly professional trade union, a fast growing union with more than 83,000 members from almost every sector of the transport industry - from the mainline and underground railways, shipping and offshore, buses and road freight.

Nationwide Group Staff Union

Nationwide Group Staff Union represents around 12,000 members. They are the sole trade union recognised by the Nationwide Building Society Group for collective bargaining.

Nautilus International

Nautilus International is a trade union and professional organisation serving, supporting and protecting the interests of more than 20,000 maritime professionals in the UK, Netherlands and Switzerland.

National Union of Mineworkers (Scotland Area)

The NUM in Scotland is committed to helping miners and their families where we can.

Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA)

The PDA is a not-for-profit organisation which supports the needs of individual employed and locum pharmacists and pharmacy students and, when necessary, defends their reputation.

Prison Officers’ Association Scotland (POA Scotland)

The POA is the largest union in the United Kingdom representing Uniformed Prison Grades and staff working within the field of Secure Forensic Psychiatric Care, with over 35 thousand members in the public and private sectors.

Professional Footballers Association Scotland (PFA Scotland)

PFA Scotland, the independent trade union for professional footballers, is the collective voice for players in Scotland to protect and promote the interests of their members.

Prospect

Prospect is a trade union which supports more than 155,000 members who work as scientists, engineers, tech experts and in other specialist roles.

Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)

The PCS is the sixth largest trade union in the United Kingdom. Most of its members work in UK government departments and other public bodies.

Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod)

The Royal College of Podiatry is the professional association and trade union for registered chiropodists and podiatrists in the United Kingdom.

Scottish Artists Union (SAU)

The Scottish Artists Union campaigns for better working conditions for all visual and applied artists living and working in Scotland.

The Society of Authors

The UK trade union for all types of writers, illustrators and literary translators.

Scottish Society of Playwrights (SSP)

The Scottish Society of Playwrights is a membership organisation representing the interests of professional playwrights in Scotland.

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM)

The RCM are the only professional organisation and trade union dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team.

The Society of Radiographers (SOR)

The trade union and UK professional body for the diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy workforce.

Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA)

TSSA is an independent trade union for the transport and travel trade industries with members across the UK and Ireland.

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW)

USDAW organises and represents workers in the retail, distributive, manufacturing, and service sectors for the purpose of securing the best possible terms and conditions and providing support and protection at work.

UNISON

UNISON is the UK’s largest union, serving more than 1.3 million members, representing full-time and part-time staff who provide public services, although they may be employed in both the public and private sectors.

Unite the Union

Unite is the second largest trade union in the UK, with over 1.2 million members in construction, manufacturing, transport, logistics and other sectors.

United Road Transport Union (URTU)

URTU is a non-political organisation dedicated to advancing the interests of those workers connected with the road haulage, distribution and logistics industry.

University and College Union (UCU)

The University and College Union represents over 120,000 academics, lecturers, trainers, instructors, researchers, managers, administrators, computer staff, librarians, technicians, professional staff and postgraduates in universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and training organisations across the UK.

Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB)

The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) is a trade union representing professional writers in TV, film, theatre, radio, books, comedy, poetry, animation and videogames. Our members also include emerging and aspiring writers.

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