Response to Articles About WEU
Some members have raised concerns about an article published by the discredited organisation Hope Not Hate concerning our union. In response, the General Secretary of the Workers of England Union, Mr. Stephen Morris, has stated that the article is not only inaccurate but also contains demonstrably false information. The following points clarify the facts:
Regulation of Trade Unions
The article incorrectly suggests that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) regulates trade unions. This is false. Trade unions in the UK are regulated by the Certification Officer, an independent regulator appointed by the UK Government. The Workers of England Union is fully registered with this authority. Learn more about the Certification Officer.
TUC Affiliation
It is not a requirement for trade unions to affiliate with the TUC. Of approximately 160 registered trade unions and staff associations in the UK, only 48 are affiliated with the TUC. Affiliation is voluntary and does not define a union’s legitimacy. For details, see our TUC Affiliation Guide.
Status as a Real Trade Union
To claim that the Workers of England Union is not a “real” trade union is false. We comply with all rules and regulations set by the Certification Officer, as required by law for any certified trade union. Read more on Trade Union Regulation.
Political Neutrality
Like many other trade unions, our members and representatives may be involved in various external organisations. However, the Workers of England Union does not affiliate with any political party and does not maintain a political fund—required only for unions that financially support or campaign for political organisations. Discover our approach in Political Neutrality Explained.
Focus on Employment Representation
Our role is strictly to represent members on employment-related matters. We do not promote political views, nor do we ask members to declare their own. Our focus is solely on supporting members in the workplace.
Covid-19 Advice
The claim that our Covid-19 guidance was based on “conspiracy theories” or “unverified legal opinions” is false. All information provided to our members was sourced from official UK Government websites, press briefings, legislation, the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) resources. Explore our sources in Covid-19 Guidance Sources.
Criticism of Unison
The Workers of England Union criticised Unison because they disseminated false information about our union, for which they were compelled to issue an apology and retraction. Additionally, Unison publicly claimed that “the vaccine is safe” despite it still being under clinical trials at the time, with limited safety data available. We believe this posed a serious risk to their members.
Representation of All Members
We have been criticised for representing members with views that Hope Not Hate finds objectionable. However, our union functions similarly to a legal firm within the framework of trade union regulations: we represent members regardless of their views, provided they seek support on employment-related matters. In contrast, it appears some TUC-affiliated unions may deny representation based on political alignment. Learn more in Representation of All Members.
Source of the Attacks
Hope Not Hate receives funding from several TUC-affiliated unions—some of which have seen their membership decline due to workers joining the Workers of England Union. It is therefore unsurprising that these unions and their affiliates publish unfounded and misleading claims about us.
Watch The Definitive Case Against Hope Not Hate.
workersofengland.co.uk | Independent Workers Trade Union
