The Decline of Trade Union Membership [Forgotten Worker Pt.1]

Why Have Millions of Workers Turned Away from Trade Unions?

For generations, Trade Unions played an important role in protecting working people across England. They challenged unfair treatment, defended employment rights and ensured that individual workers were not left facing powerful employers alone.

Yet something has changed.

Millions of employees no longer belong to a Trade Union, and we must ask why.

Government figures reveal the scale of the decline. In 1979, Trade Unions in Great Britain reported approximately 13.2 million members. By 2023–24, that figure had fallen to around 6.7 million.

Among UK employees, Trade Union membership declined from 32.4% in 1995 to 22.4% in 2025. Despite a modest recovery in the latest year, more than three-quarters of employees remain outside trade union membership.

The private sector presents an even more concerning picture. In 2025, only 12.1% of private sector employees belonged to a Trade Union, compared with 48.5% in the public sector.

Why Have So Many Workers Turned Away?

It is clear that some have experienced disappointing representation from workplace reps. Others question whether their subscriptions deliver meaningful benefits. Many work in smaller businesses where Trade Unions have little visibility or an established work presence of support.

There are also legitimate questions about whether the Labour Party funding Trade union movement have become too bureaucratic, too closely associated with particular industries and too involved in political activities unrelated to individual members' working lives.

Also historically, industrial disputes have sometimes become entangled with wider political struggles. The miners' strike of 1984–85 remains a particularly divisive example, with disagreement continuing over the objectives and leadership of the dispute. Especially as some believed that the Trade Union bosses were more interested in bring down the British government than improving their members working conditions.

The Workers of England Union believes these issues deserve open examination and the English Trade Union Congress (ETUC) will examine these in more detail over the coming months.

However, although significant reasons, declining membership cannot simply be attributed to political involvement or poor workplace representation. Changes in employment, industrial restructuring, legislation and the growth of workplaces without established Trade Unions have also contributed.

Nevertheless, one question remains particularly important.

Does the Individual Worker Feel Forgotten?

Does the individual worker feel forgotten whilst the Labour funding Trade Union’s politically campaign?

An employee facing bullying, discrimination, disciplinary proceedings or unfair treatment does not necessarily want a political campaign. They want someone knowledgeable, independent and confident enough to stand beside them.

They want a representative who understands employment law, challenges inappropriate decisions and helps ensure employers meet their legal responsibilities.

Workers should not have to face these situations alone.

Yet some have become so disillusioned with Trade Unions that they would rather take their chances without representation. That is a dangerous position for working people and a mistake!

Rebuilding Confidence in Trade Unionism

The decline in Trade Union membership should concern everyone who believes in fair treatment at work. Millions of employees now face workplace difficulties without the reassurance of experienced independent representation.

Whatever their reasons for leaving, the Trade Union movement must recognise that it has failed to retain the confidence of a substantial proportion of the workforce.

The Workers of England Union knows that we need to take the lead in rebuilding that confidence again.

The answer cannot simply be to tell workers that they should join a Trade Union. We must demonstrate why membership matters, provide effective representation and show that the individual member remains a first priority.

At the Workers of England Union, we believe there is an important place for Trade Unionism in modern working life. However, rebuilding confidence means listening to those who have walked away, understanding their concerns and offering something genuinely different. Independent Trade Unionism and Independent non-workplace Representation is the way forward.

Workers have not stopped needing representation. The challenge is to give them a reason to trust Trade Unions again. Part Two: Rebuilding Confidence in Trade Union Representation is to follow.

Stephen Morris
General Secretary
Workers of England Union

References: (Department for Business and Trade (2026). Trade Union Membership, UK, 1995 to 2025. Government statistical bulletin; Department for Business and Trade (2026). Trade Union Membership Statistics 2025: Statistical Tables. Historical membership figures and public/private sector comparisons)

Key Takeaways

• Long-Term Membership Halved: Trade union membership collapsed from 13.2 million in 1979 to ~6.7 million in 2023–24, with overall UK employee density falling to 22.4% by 2025.
• Private Sector Disconnect: Only 12.1% of private-sector employees belong to a union compared to 48.5% in the public sector, leaving millions without workplace representation.
• Alienation from Political Priorities: Workers increasingly feel abandoned by legacy unions that prioritise party political donations and campaigns over individual workplace grievances.
• The Independent Union Solution: WEU champions a member-first model based on independent, external representation free from employer conflicts and party alignments.