The latest figures from the Certification Officer's Annual Report for 2025-2026 paint a mixed picture of trade union membership in the UK. While the numbers may be skewed by Unite the Union's decision not to provide its annual return, the reported decline of nearly one-fifth (19.4%) is still a stark reminder of the challenges facing organised labour. With fewer than 5.4 million members now recorded, it seems that trade unions are struggling to hold onto their traditional base.
The impact on funds and assets is more nuanced: total funds reported by trade unions have increased by nearly 5% (£1.89 billion to £1.98 billion), while total assets have experienced a slight decline of over 1% (to £2.27 billion). It's unclear what these figures really mean without the full data from Unite, but they do hint at a more complex story than simply falling membership numbers.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 has also had a profound impact on the Certification Officer's role and powers, reversing some of the changes introduced by the Trade Union Act 2016. The 'opt-out' system for new members to contribute to political funds is back in place, and trade unions no longer have to disclose detailed information about industrial action or spending in their annual returns.
The Certification Officer dealt with a significant increase in complaints from trade union members (46 compared to just 13 the previous year), with seven upheld at hearings resulting in two enforcement orders. One notable case saw a financial penalty issued against a trade union for failing to provide access to its accounting records.
Despite these regulatory challenges, three new organisations were added to the official list of trade unions (taking the total to 131), while the number of employers' associations remained steady at 36.
The report marks the first from Stephen Hardy in his role as Certification Officer, succeeding Sarah Bedwell. His snapshot of the UK's trade union landscape is a timely reminder that there's still much work to be done to support organised labour in these changing times.