A trade union is a group of employees who join together to maintain and improve their conditions of employment. The typical activities of trade unions include providing assistance and services to their members, collectively bargaining for better pay and conditions for all workers, working to improve the quality of public services, political campaigning and industrial action.
It is not necessary to join a union if you have a job, but in certain fields like social care, it can be a real asset to you as an employee.
Your place of work may have a recognised union for you to join, or your colleagues may already be part of a union. If you are still not sure which union to join, the TUC website will be able to direct you to a union that is suitable for your field of work.