Trade unions are built on a simple principle: workers are stronger when they stand together. For over a century, unions have organised workplaces, challenged bad employers, and secured historic gains for working people. Yet within the movement itself there is a paradox: the people who dedicate their working lives to this cause often lack the same protection and collective voice they help deliver for others.
That is why union workers need a union of their own.
The unique position of union staff
Union workers are in a distinctive position. We are not just employees; we are the people who make the campaigns, negotiations, and victories of the wider movement possible. Our work demands long hours, deep emotional commitment, and constant problem-solving under pressure. We see first-hand the power of solidarity, but when it comes to their own terms and conditions, they often stand alone.
Our recent survey found that union staff face many of the same issues seen in the broader workforce: excessive workload, stress, lack of feedback, and patchy career development. Yet because of the unusual dynamics of the sector, these problems are rarely addressed openly.
The credibility challenge
When unions demand high standards from external employers while failing to apply those standards internally, credibility is at risk. Staff notice the gap between rhetoric and reality. Members, too, increasingly expect their unions to embody the principles they advocate.
For a movement that relies on moral authority, this dissonance is dangerous. A union that neglects its own staff cannot sustainably demand better treatment for others.
Barriers to speaking up
Why can’t union staff simply use their own structures to raise concerns? In theory, we can. However, in practice, there are real barriers:
- Conflicts of interest – a grievance about workload or management style may end up in the hands of the same people responsible for the problem.
- Fear of reputational harm – staff may hesitate to raise issues that could “embarrass” the organisation in front of members or the public.
- Isolation – many union workers operate in small offices or specialist roles, without the support networks found in larger workplaces.
- Culture of loyalty – staff often feel they must prioritise members’ struggles above their own, even when under extreme pressure.
The result is silence and silence allows problems to fester.
What a dedicated union can do
The Union Workers Union (UWU) was created to break that silence. As an independent, member-led organisation, the UWU gives union staff the one thing they cannot easily create within their own employers: a safe, collective, and independent voice.
A dedicated union for union workers can:
- Negotiate fairly with union employers on pay, terms, and conditions.
- Provide representation when workplace issues arise, ensuring staff are not left to navigate conflicts of interest alone.
- Campaign publicly for a cultural shift across the movement, one where unions model the same standards they demand from others.
- Build solidarity among staff across different unions, breaking down the isolation many feel in their roles.
- Strengthen the movement by ensuring its workforce is healthy, valued, and sustainable.
A growing force
UWU is still young, but momentum is clear. With 300 members already and annual growth of around 50%, the union is rapidly building capacity. Our recent survey, one of the first collective snapshots of working life in the sector, has already shone a light on issues long kept in the dark.
The demand is there. Union staff want fairness, respect, and a culture of solidarity at home as well as in the workplaces they represent.
Solidarity begins at home
Some may ask whether creating a union for union workers risks dividing the movement. In fact, the opposite is true. Solidarity is not weakened by ensuring staff are treated fairly; it is strengthened. When union workers have decent conditions, manageable workloads, and genuine voice, they are better able to fight for members.
Solidarity begins at home. By organising ourselves, we show the movement and the wider world, that we practise what we preach.
That is why union workers need a union of their own.