In today’s healthcare landscape, nursing unions play a vital role in protecting those on the front line. From ensuring fair pay and safe staffing levels to offering legal support and advocating for better working conditions, unions give nurses a collective voice in a system that often struggles to meet their needs.
As pressures on the NHS continue to mount (chronic staff shortages, rising patient demand, and the ongoing battle over pay), nurses are turning to unions in record numbers. Recent waves of industrial action have highlighted not just frustration within the profession, but a renewed determination to push back against years of stagnation and underfunding.
Here are the five biggest and most influential nursing unions every nurse in the UK should know about.
1. Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
With over half a million members, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the largest nursing-specific union in the UK. What sets it apart is its dual function: it operates both as a professional body and as a trade union. This means it doesn’t just represent nurses in dispute, it also shapes professional standards and supports lifelong learning.
The RCN has been a leading voice in recent industrial action, particularly around NHS pay disputes and staffing levels. It plays an active role in shaping national policy, pushing for improvements in working conditions and patient safety. For nurses navigating complex workplace challenges, the union also offers robust legal representation and employment advice.
Beyond industrial matters, the RCN provides access to continuing professional development (CPD), educational resources, and career guidance, making it a go-to for both student nurses and experienced practitioners looking to progress or specialise.
2. UNISON (Healthcare Section)
UNISON is one of the UK’s largest trade unions, with around 350,000 members working in healthcare alone. While it represents a wide range of NHS staff, including healthcare assistants, porters and clerical workers, a significant portion of its membership is made up of registered nurses.
Its strength lies in numbers and presence. UNISON has long been a key player in NHS pay negotiations and has consistently been at the forefront of national conversations around staffing, working hours, and conditions. During times of industrial action, it’s often one of the loudest and most organised voices in the room.
For many nurses, UNISON’s appeal lies in its strong network of local branches, which offer on-the-ground support and representation. Its collective bargaining power gives members a platform to negotiate better terms, while its support during grievances or disciplinary processes provides an added layer of protection in the workplace.
3. Unite the Union – Health Sector
Unite’s health sector represents around 100,000 members across the NHS and related services. Its membership includes nurses, ambulance staff, and mental health professionals, offering wide coverage across frontline and specialist roles.
The union is known for its firm stance on workplace issues. It has consistently opposed NHS privatisation, campaigned for safer staffing levels, and pushed back against wage stagnation. Unite doesn’t shy away from taking a confrontational approach when necessary, often leading calls for strike action and public protest.
For nurses who want strong, vocal representation, especially those working in high-pressure environments, Unite can be a solid choice. Its structure also allows for involvement in broader labour issues, giving members a louder political voice beyond just the healthcare sector.
4. GMB Union (Healthcare Arm)
GMB represents tens of thousands of workers across the health and social care sector, including some nurses, care assistants, and staff working in outsourced NHS services. While it’s not exclusively a nursing union, its presence in lower-paid and often overlooked areas of healthcare makes it a strong advocate for those on the margins of the system.
The union has a reputation for being militant and grassroots-driven. It’s particularly active in care homes, private healthcare providers, and among NHS contractors – settings where staff are frequently underrepresented and underpaid. GMB is known for its no-nonsense campaigning style and willingness to take disputes public when negotiations stall.
For nurses working outside traditional hospital settings, or those employed through third-party agencies, GMB offers a voice that’s direct, loud, and willing to challenge poor conditions head-on. Its focus on pay equity and workplace justice makes it a valuable ally in sectors often left behind.
5. Royal College of Midwives (RCM)
With a membership of around 48,000, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) stands as the UK’s only trade union and professional organisation dedicated solely to midwifery. While it doesn’t represent the broader nursing workforce, many of its members are dual-trained as nurses, particularly those working in maternal and neonatal care.
RCM’s influence is clear in national discussions around maternity safety, staffing standards, and service quality. It has led industrial action to demand safer working conditions, not just for midwives, but for the women and families they support. Its campaigning has often focused on chronic staff shortages in maternity units and the pressure this places on both patients and professionals.
Though more specialised than the other unions on this list, the RCM has earned its place through consistent advocacy, professional guidance, and legal representation tailored to a critical area of healthcare. Its reputation and reach make it a powerful option for those in midwifery roles, whether working in hospitals, birth centres or the community.
Whether you’re just starting out in your nursing career or you’re years into the profession, being part of a union can offer real protection, support, and a collective voice in a system that doesn’t always work in your favour. From the RCN’s dual role as both advocate and educator, to GMB’s presence in underrepresented corners of care, each of these unions brings something different to the table.
In a time where nurses are expected to do more with less, and often for less, these organisations are helping to push back. They negotiate pay, fight unsafe staffing, and provide legal cover when things go wrong. They’re not perfect, but they’re necessary.
Choosing the right union depends on where you work, what kind of support you value, and how involved you want to be. What matters most is knowing you don’t have to go it alone. These five unions represent the biggest and most active forces standing behind UK nurses today.
