UNISON has around 63,000 young members. If you are a UNISON member and under 27 years of age you are automatically entitled to participate as a young member. Why not get involved and help us campaign for the issues affecting young workers.
Our young members group works to encourage recruitment, organisation and participation of young workers. The group also provides a powerful voice for young members and the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge.

About
UNISON encourages young members to get involved in every level of the organisation. Find out how to get actively involved in campaigning on issues that affect you, and how becoming a member can help progress your career.
Key issues
This section is about the key issues affecting young members. Each key issue explains the facts behind the issue, what UNISON is doing and how you can get involved. You will also find news articles, useful resources and events.
Organising
Young members meet as a membership group at branch, regional and national level. Find out what the different groups do and how they are organised.
Group structure and contacts
List of regional contacts. Members can contact their young members’ representative in UNISON branches to discuss any issues that might arise in their workplace.
Resources
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UNISON Equality Resources March 2021
2 March 2021
none -
UNISON Equality Resources – February 2021
8 February 2021
noneAn up-to-date list of UNISON’s Equality resources for bargaining, campaigning and organising. Includes Covid 19 specific guidance
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UNISON young workers respect your youth – charter
31 October 2019
noneCharter to be used for young members campaigning.
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Young workers respect your youth charter leaflet
31 October 2019
noneYoung workers respect your youth charter – LEAFLET
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Twitter graphic – training
29 October 2018
noneDownload this graphic and insert into a Facebook post to promote UNISON training.
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Twitter graphic – plan
29 October 2018
noneDownload this graphic and insert into a Twitter post about insecure work.
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Twitter graphic – fair
29 October 2018
noneDownload this graphic and insert into a Facebook post about fairness in the workplace or workers’ rights.
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Twitter graphic – pay
29 October 2018
none -
Twitter graphic – better balance
29 October 2018
noneDownload this graphic and insert into a Facebook post about time off, workload or work-life balance. This is part of a set of Facebook graphics, which have been created to help recruit and organise young workers.
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Twitter graphic – your world
29 October 2018
noneDownload this graphic and insert into a Facebook post to encourage people to get involved in UNISON campaigns. This is part of a set of Facebook graphics, which have been created to help recruit and organise young workers.
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Facebook graphic – training
29 October 2018
noneDownload this graphic and insert into a Facebook post to promote UNISON training. This is part of a set of Facebook graphics, which have been created to help recruit and organise young workers, by highlighting UNISON services they may be interested in.
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Facebook graphic – plan
29 October 2018
noneDownload this graphic and insert into a Facebook post about insecure work. This is part of a set of Facebook graphics, which have been created to help recruit and organise young workers, by appealing to the issues they face.
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Facebook graphic – pay
29 October 2018
noneDownload this graphic and insert into a Facebook post about pay.
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Facebook graphic – balance
29 October 2018
noneDownload this graphic and insert into a Facebook post about time off, workload or work-life balance.
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Facebook graphic – your world
29 October 2018
noneDownload this graphic and insert into a Facebook post encouraging people to get involved in UNISON campaigns.
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Young workers postcard – we negotiate pay
29 October 2018
noneA set of postcards have been created to help recruit and organise young workers, by appealing to the issues they face. Order them from UNISON’s Online Catalogue or download here.
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Facebook graphic – fair
29 October 2018
noneA set of Facebook graphics have been created to help recruit and organise young workers, by appealing to the issues they face. Download here and insert into a Facebook post about fairness in the workplace.
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Young workers postcard – better balance
26 October 2018
noneA set of postcards have been created to help recruit and organise young workers, by appealing to the issues they face. Order them from UNISON’s Online Catalogue or download here.
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Young workers postcard – build your skills
26 October 2018
noneA set of postcards have been created to help recruit and organise young workers, by appealing to the issues they face. Order them from UNISON’s Online Catalogue or download here.
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Young workers postcard – improve your world
26 October 2018
noneA set of postcards have been created to help recruit and organise young workers, by appealing to the issues they face. Order them from UNISON’s Online Catalogue or download here.
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Young workers postcard – work isn’t always fair
26 October 2018
noneA set of postcards have been created to help recruit and organise young workers, by appealing to the issues they face. Order them from UNISON’s Online Catalogue or download here.
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Young workers postcard – life takes planning
26 October 2018
noneA set of postcards have been created to help recruit and organise young workers, by appealing to the issues they face. Order them from UNISON’s Online Catalogue or download here.
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Young Workers poster
23 October 2017
noneA4 poster celebrating young workers contribution in the workplace. Min order 5.
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Young people deserve better
13 October 2017
noneYoung people deserve better than unemployment, cuts to training and education and a bleak future. UNISON campaigns for decent prospects for young people.
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Fighting for fairness and equality – Leaflet
4 August 2017
noneA leaflet outlining UNISON’s commitment to achieving equality in our workplaces, in our union and across society.
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Harassment at Work
9 December 2016
noneAn A4 guide for branches on how to deal with harassment and bullying at work. It includes a model ‘dignity at work’ policy.
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Download our young workers’ guide to mental health
22 October 2015
noneInfo graphic
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The costs associated with poor mental health
22 October 2015
noneInfo graphic
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111% of young people have been prescribed anti depressants
22 October 2015
noneInfo graphic
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40% of jobless young people
22 October 2015
nonehave faced symptoms of mental illness as a direct result of being unemployed – info graphic
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1 in six British workers are affected
22 October 2015
noneby conditions like anxiety,derpession and stress – info graphic
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1in 4 people will experience mental health problems in any given year
22 October 2015
noneInfo graphic
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November is Young Workers’ Month
24 September 2015
noneYoung Workers’ Month 2015 Letter to young activists
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All young but not all the same
15 September 2015
noneA5 leaflet to encourage young members to get involved in the union. Minimum order 20.
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Young workers – your pay your rights
22 July 2015
noneYoung workers and the minimum wage. A5 leaflet with information on the basic employment rights. Of particular use to UNISON members working with young people in schools, colleges, careers services, youth services, leisure centres and through social services.
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Why we need a new housing benefit deal for young people
26 January 2015
noneUNISON factsheet linked to the union’s report on A new housing benefit deal for young people, published in November2014
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A new housing benefit deal for young people
27 November 2014
noneUNISON research campaign paper calling for a policies to prevent young people becoming impoverished
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Young members design competition brief
4 November 2014
noneEnter the competition to design the young members in UNISON branding.
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Living Wage week activity brief 2014
4 November 2014
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Living Wage petition
4 November 2014
noneUse this petition template to gather signatures of people who believe everyone should earn enough to live on.
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Remember remember the whole of November. Young members poster
23 October 2014
noneYoung members poster
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Letter from Dave Prentis to young members, with ribbons enclosed
17 October 2014
noneLetter from Dave Prentis to young members, with ribbons enclosed
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Young members weekend 2015
15 October 2014
noneYoung members weekend 2015 A5 leaflet
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Young People Deserve Better A5 leaflet
30 September 2014
noneYoung people deserve better than unemployment, cuts to training and education and a bleak future.
UNISON campaigns for a brighter future with decent prospects for young people. Get involved. -
Public sector equality duty factsheet
22 January 2014
noneBargaining Support Factsheet
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Apprentices – how to recruit
25 November 2013
noneGuide to recruiting apprentices including preparation and conversation points.
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Young workers – your wages your rights
22 October 2013
noneYoung workers and the minimum wage. A5 leaflet with information on the basic employment rights. Of particular use to UNISON members working with young people in schools, colleges, careers services, youth services, leisure centres and through social services. Updated October 2013.
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UNISON Guidance on Cyberbullying
10 September 2013
noneFor branch secretaries, health and safety reps and regional organisers
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A guide to equality in UNISON
13 June 2013
noneUNISON’s equalities agenda: how UNISON works to build equality into everything we do
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Women, talking, group, young members
10 May 2013
nonePaul Box