Our history
UNISON has been representing UK public sector workers for more than 30 years
Photo credit: Marcus Rose
UNISON is the public service union for UK workers
UNISON was formed on 1 July 1993. Three public sector trade unions – the National and Local Government Officers Association (NALGO), the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) and the Confederation of Health Service Employees (COHSE) – merge to form UNISON.
Of the over 1.3 million public sector workers we represent, 70% are women, many of whom are low paid. That’s why we chose green and purple for our branding – the colours worn by the suffragettes.
Our vision is to:
- be the biggest, boldest union;
- be progressive, relevant and at pace with the world;
- have a positive impact in our workplaces, in public services and in society;
- be effective, respectful and supportive, ensuring we promote and uphold equality, diversity and democracy.
In the last 25 years, UNISON has won £727.5 million in compensation for members. We consistently negotiated to halt cuts and redundancies, helped transform NHS pay structures, and supported international projects to fight privatisation and empower workers, and supported members to continue learning by training UNISON learning reps.
Women and trade unions
Women have always been central to trade unions and the fight for a more equal society.
We’ve put together a timeline of some of the key dates for women and the trade union movement
Become a member today
Join over 1.3 million members committed to fairness, safety and equality at work.
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Together we're stronger.