Unite in Westminster
At the heart of Parliament – past, present
and future
The Labour Party was created by the trade unions over 100 years
ago to give a political voice to the values and aspirations of
trade union members. Nine of the first 29 Labour MPs elected to
Parliament were supported by the constituent unions that now make
up Unite.
Today, the Unite Parliamentary Group is the largest working
trade union group in Westminster and aims to fully represent our
membership in the political arena. Unite retains a strong level of
influence within the Parliamentary Labour Party enabling the union
to make a direct difference on behalf of our members.
The Unite Parliamentary Group – representing
workers in Westminster
The Unite Parliamentary Group was created in May 2008 after the
merger of the amicus and T&G Parliamentary Groups.
Unite does not solely have representation in the House of
Commons. There are currently around 25 Unite Peers in the House of
Lords. Unite Peers are part of the Parliamentary Group and also
meet as a separate group. They have been instrumental in speaking
up for union members as key pieces of legislation, such as the
Corporate Manslaughter Bill, pass through the Lords.
The Parliamentary Group meets in its entirety approximately
every two months, with the Unite joint general secretaries often
joining MPs and Peers for the full meeting. In addition, full group
meetings provide a principal opportunity for parliamentarians to be
briefed on union campaigns and their support garnered.
Outside of these meetings, members of the group work on a daily
basis in Parliament in the interest of Unite members, on
legislative, policy and industrial matters. Unite MPs are in
regular contact with senior officers of the union and the Political
Department acts as a link between the industrial arm of the union
and the world of Westminster.
Unite:
Working in Westminster - A guide to the work of the union in
Parliament and Whitehall
