Unite the Union is a democratic organisation led by lay members. Unlike a corporation, our policies, positions and aims are not decided from the top down, instead, ordinary members and elected representatives debate and vote on them. The aims of Unite were created in this way and are embedded in the Unite Rule Book as the union’s objects. They are:

To organise, recruit and represent workers, and strengthen workplace organisation; to encourage membership involvement and participation to achieve real union power for its members.

2. Improve pay and conditions

To defend and improve its members’ wages and working conditions including the pursuit of equal pay for work of equal value and extend collective bargaining. This being the best and most effective means of distributing wealth, improving the wages and conditions of workers, and giving workers collective power in the workplace. To help our members win in the workplace, using the union’s resources to assist in that process, and to support our members in struggle including through strike action.

3. Improve social and economic wellbeing

To defend and improve the social and economic well-being of members and their families, both directly and via commensurate policies in relation to society both domestically and abroad.

4. Have a strong political voice

To have a strong political voice, fighting on behalf of working peoples’ interests, and to influence the political agenda locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, so as to promote a socialist vision for:

• A more equal society in which wealth is distributed from the rich to the poor, including by means of progressive taxation and other regulatory measures to restrict excessive wealth.
• A collective society in which public services are directly provided on the basis of public need and not private greed, and a fair system of welfare and benefits to support those in need.
• Public ownership of important areas of economic activity and services, including health, education, water, post, rail and local passenger transport.

5. Further political objectives

To further political objectives including by affiliation to the Labour Party.

6. Promote equality and fairness

To promote equality and fairness for all, including actively opposing prejudice and discrimination on grounds of gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, class, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, migrant worker status or caring responsibilities.

7. Affiliate to trade union bodies

To affiliate to the TUC, ICTU, Welsh and Scottish TUCs and other appropriate trade union cooperation/coordination bodies domestically and internationally.

8. Promote constructive cooperation

To promote constructive cooperation between trade unions internationally to further the interests of members of the Union and those in other unions in dealing with the direct and indirect impact of globalisation.

9. Promote education and training

To promote education and training; both vocational and industrial and otherwise as conducive to these objects.

10. Provide financial and other benefits

To provide such financial and other benefits and legal assistance to members as may be specified in these rules.

11. Take all action to attain these objects

To do all such other things as may in the opinion of the Executive Council be incidental or conducive to the attainment of these objects.

12. Communicate and encourage participation

To communicate information to members about union activities, campaigns, services and/or benefits, so as to encourage participation and further these objects.

13. Procure services ethically

The Union’s procurement policy shall be based, wherever possible, on sourcing assets and services from organised labour within the UK or internationally, if unavailable in the UK. The union will maintain a list of union recognised sources of asset and service providers. Periodically, the union will consult with the relevant industrial sectors to ensure the list remains comprehensive and accurate.

14. Follow the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code

The union will conduct its procurement process in line with the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code. The ETI Base Code is based on internationally recognised standards of the International Labour Organisation, the UN agency responsible for labour standards, which the UK and Ireland has signed up to.