Trade Unions
Trade unions for UK library workers
“Unions are groups of workers organised together to win a better deal at work.” Trade Union Congress
Trade union membership has significant benefits. Unions are your voice at work, and getting involved can make real changes which improve things for everyone in your workplace. Many unions are campaigning on similar issues to Fair Library Jobs, such as fair pay and equitable recruitment. They also offer individual benefits such as advice and legal support over issues like discrimination, redundancies and disciplinary matters. We encourage all workers in libraries to join a union and actively participate in union campaigning.
Library workers in the UK do not have their own professional trade union. (CILIP is not a trade union). People working in libraries have interests in common with colleagues in different roles employed by the same organisation, and working in the same sector. For example, university librarians are often in the same pension scheme as academics, and public library workers may be on local council pay scales. Solidarity and collaboration across professional boundaries are essential to improve conditions for all workers.
Unions work by collective action so in most cases it makes sense to join the same union as your colleagues. Many workplaces will have an officially recognised union or unions, meaning that the employer and union have a formal relationship and negotiate over issues such as pay. In some cases different unions will be recognised to represent employees from different pay grades or job roles. In universities, for example, UCU will often be the recognised union for negotiation over USS pensions, with Unite or Unison representing employees in other pension schemes.
Larger workplaces will have information about recognised trade unions on their website or intranet. You can also talk to your colleagues to find out if they are in a union, or get in contact with the local branch of the union you think is most appropriate to check if they have members with your employer.
Trade union membership generally does have a financial cost. Many unions have a sliding scale of fees dependant on income, and offer free or reduced membership for students. Some have hardship funds to support members in financial distress.
Remember, you can join a union even if your employer does not recognise one. It is illegal for your employer to disadvantage you because you are a union member. For more information on how unions work please see the TUC website.
The list below includes some of the unions library workers in the UK belong to, but please get in touch if there’s any we have missed, or any information it would be helpful to add.
GMB is a general union, which means it represents workers across all industries and companies. It has members from many organisations with library workers, including the NHS, schools and local government.
IWGB – Independent Workers of Great Britain @IWGBunion
IWGB is a grass-roots, member-led union campaigning for the rights of marginalised and precarious workers, such as those in the gig economy. They are currently campaigning against outsourcing in London universities, an issue which primarily affects cleaners and security staff (who are often left out of discussions of library workers, but whose labour is essential to the running of libraries).
National Education Union @NEUnion @NeuLibrarians
The NEU is a union for all education professionals, including library workers, across schools and academies, sixth form and further education colleges, education support services, alternative education provision settings, and early years settings.
The April 2022 NEU conference passed a motion on the value of school libraries, and NEU members are taking action to stand up for LGBT staff and students at John Fisher School in response to the banning of a visit by author Simon Green.
PCS - Public and Commercial Services Union @pcs_union @PCSCultureGroup
The PCS Culture Group includes members from the National Library of Wales, National Library of Scotland, British Library, National Art Library and Wallace Collection Library, and other cultural organisations like museums.
PCS is currently campaigning for a £15 minimum living wage for all public sector workers.
The trade union for prison, correctional and secure psychiatric workers, including library workers.
Prospect members across a wide range of roles and sectors, including heritage, education and public sector bodies like Public Health England. You can check for your employer on the list of local branches.
UCU - University and College Union @ucu
UCU covers universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and other post-16 training providers. Their membership includes academics, computer staff, librarians, postgraduate teaching assistants and other education professionals. In many universities UCU is the recognised union with representational rights for higher job grades.
UCU is currently leading national campaigns to defend USS pensions, ensure fair pay, manageable workloads, job security, and address gender, ethnicity and disability pay gaps.
Unison members include library workers in education, public libraries, NHS libraries, and the charity sector. Unison also represents workers for private contractors providing public services.
Unison is currently campaigning against cuts in the public sector, to improve pay in schools and council, and to end sexual harassment and the gender pay gap.
Unite represents workers in Britain and Ireland with members working across all sectors of the economy. Members come from 19 private, public and voluntary sectors, including education, health and local authorities.
United Voices of the World @UVWunion
UVW is a member-led, direct action, campaigning trade union, with campaigns on issues such as outsourcing and the London Living Wage. It has members in the service sector, design and cultural work, the legal sector, architecture and childcare amongst others.