Unions for Writers: how they work and what they can offer

By ScotBPOCwritersBlog
Image of a person visible from the eyes up, holding a sign. Text on the sign reads: Unions for writers: How they work and what they can offer. The border of the image looks like torn paper overlaid on corkboard.

This post takes a look at the unions available to us as writers, their purpose, how they operate, and the resources and support they offer.

CONTENTS:

What is a union and why should I join?

How is a union structured?

A union is a democratic member organisation made up of workers acting and organising collectively. 

Members elect people to speak for them (often called a rep) and elect an executive committee or council to steer the union and represent its members. Some unions have branches for a local area or similar jobs, and some also have networks supporting different groups. At the annual general meeting (AGM) members can put forward motions and vote on them, as well as elect committee or council members. These are all voluntary roles. 

To join a union you pay a subscription, or ‘subs’, which is how they’re financed. Some tiers are based on your income and others are based on your experience. For emerging writers who don’t yet qualify for ‘Full’ membership, there are usually reduced ‘Associate’ and/or student membership options.

Unions will hold conferences and AGMs to decide on the union’s priorities. They often employ lawyers, press officers and campaigners, as well as staff to support the day-to-day running of the organisation. 

Most (not all) unions are affiliated with the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which brings together 5.5 million people across 48 unions, or the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), which brings together 43 trade unions. These congresses train union reps, brief member unions, vote on collective priorities, campaign and lobby on agreed priorities, and support unions to grow and organise.

Sometimes unions will jointly campaign on issues – for example, the Society of Authors and Writers Guild of Great Britain have campaigned together on the copyright infringement of AI companies.

Union organising history

Unions have made impactful changes to our working lives and workplace rights, including:

Infographic about what unions have accomplished, with the following text and image pairings: Text: Two-day weekend. Image: drawing of a calendar. Text: National minimum wage. Image: clip art of pound coins. Text: Abolition of child labour. Image: a red circle and line (the 'no' or 'prohibited' symbol) over a pickaxe. Next to these is a clip art picture of a child smiling. Text: Improved worker safety. Image: safety goggles and a hard hat. Text: Minimum holiday allowance and sick pay. Image: a suitcase covered in travel stickers, next to a clip art picture of a person with a covid facemask sitting in bed. Text: Improved conditions of parental leave. Image: a father and daughter blowing bubbles together. Text: Reductions in exploitation. Image: a big red X over clip art of an angry businessman sitting on top of an office building, looking down at the people below. Text: Increased protection for migrant workers. Image: clip art of four people walking together carrying bags and books. Text: Equality legislation. Image: an orange equals sign.

Why join a union?

The purpose of a union is to:

  • Provide a collective voice in the workplace and beyond, for example, lobbying government on specific issues, taking industrial action, or campaigning for workplace or industry change.
  • Stand up for workers in times of trouble
  • Facilitate groups of workers to organise together on issues and topics that affect them, for example pay, pensions, safety at work, unfair treatment and discrimination, concerns about the way work is organised
  • Support training and education
  • Improve working conditions through collective bargaining 
  • Access to benefits, such as insurance, discounts, contract advice

Joining a union means you can have an influence on your and your colleagues’ working conditions and issues affecting you, access legal help, get help with your career, and network with peers. 

Unions for writers and artists also have suggested fair rates of pay you can refer to and cite.

When a group of workers act and speak together, their employer/s, the government, and their industry have to listen.
Image of fists raised in protest/solidarity.

Unions for writers based in Scotland & the UK

Below is a list of the main unions available to authors, playwrights, poets, and artists. 

Can I join more than one union? If you work or create art across more than one artform or creative sector, you can choose to join unions that serve different sectors.

Society of Authors

The Society of Authors (SoA) is a union focused primarily on writers, illustrators and translators, while also open to performance poets, storytellers, bloggers, and journalists. It has over 12,000 members and is the largest writers union in the UK. 

Services and support include: 

  • Public liability insurance 
  • Contract vetting
  • Dispute resolution 
  • Professional development
  • Low income and work-in-progress support grants 
  • Estate management
  • Member forums 
  • Literary prizes

Members can also collectively propose resolutions to be voted on live online, or by proxy, at the AGM.

The SoA is governed by the Management Committee, a board of directors, composed of volunteer members who are elected by members of the SoA. These elections take place via postal vote once a year. 

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Elections are currently open for the SoA Management Committee 2025 elections, closing on the 22nd October, with the last UK postal date the 17th October 2025.

 

Read our Q&A with Mohamed Tonsy 

Clip art of a notebook & pen and a laptop on a background image of lined paper. Light yellow and orange text on a green rectangle reads: Q&A with Mohamed Tonsy on writers' unions. '‘We deserve a union that represents us, one that’s ready to fight for its workers’ rights.'

At the time of writing, the SoA is not a member of the TUC, however the Society of Authors in Scotland (SOAiS) is affiliated with STUC. 

In addition to the Management Committee, there are 15+ self-organised member groups and networks, with elected chairs and committees, including location-based, and: 

The Chairs of these groups (whose membership makes up more than 5% of the total membership) can sit on the Management Committee but do not have a vote.

Writers’ Guild of Great Britain 

The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) is a trade union for writers working in TV, film, theatre, audio, books, poetry, comedy, animation and videogames, with over 3,000 members. While there is more focus on scriptwriters, the union is open to book authors and (performance) poets, and encourages members to self-organise interest groups. 

The WGGB is affiliated with the TUC, works closely with other TUC-affiliated trade unions such as the Musicians’ Union and Equity, has published solidarity statements, and has secured several lobbying and campaign wins.

Services and support include rates guidance, contract vetting, dispute resolution, low income support grants, professional development, member forums, literary prizes, and (limited) pension contributions.

The Executive Council, elected by members, is composed of volunteer members who chair their Equality and Diversity, National and Regional and Craft committees. 

In addition, member networks include:

  • LGBT+ Network
  • Challenging Sexism Network
  • Challenging Ageism
  • Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent Member Network
  • Writers of Colour Network
  • Returning Writers Network
  • Challenging Class Privilege Network

National Union of Journalists

Unlike the SoA and WGGB, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is open to journalists who are employees as well as freelancers. Focusing on journalists, the NUJ is also open to authors, illustrators, scriptwriters, and bloggers and has almost 23,000 members.

The NUJ is affiliated with the TUC and a large number of UK, EU and international unions and organisations, bringing together 600,000 journalists, regularly publishing global and national solidarity activities.

It has more than 1,000 organisations (which they call ‘chapels’), some recognised by TV companies, publishing houses, and news networks.

Services and support include: 

  • Legal assistance, contract vetting, dispute resolution 
  • Public liability insurance and professional liability insurance 
  • Asylum and immigration advice 
  • Media law advice
  • Financial assistance for members and their dependants 
  • Professional development, training, member forums and networking

Scottish Society of Playwrights 

The Scottish Society of Playwrights is open to playwrights and screenwriters who are professionally produced or in receipt of an offer of professional commission or production.

Services and support include career and writing advice, discounts on scriptwriting software, and concessionary admission to several theatres across Scotland.

Other unions for creative artists and freelancers in Scotland

The following unions for creatives are affiliated with the TUC and/or the STUC, and offer:

  • Insurance
  • Free legal advice or assistance
  • Discounts and deals
  • Advice and guidance on payment disputes and contract negotiations
  • Professional development workshops and events

Scottish Artists Union

The Scottish Artists Union is open to creators whose work falls into visual or applied art categories.

BECTU

Bectu is the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union, representing workers (employees and freelance) across media, except musicians and actors.

Equity

Equity represents actors, choreographers, comedians, dancers, drag artists, theatre directors, models, singers, stage management, storytellers, stunt performers and co-ordinators, theatre and fight directors, set, costume and lighting designers, TV and radio presenters, variety, circus, cabaret and light entertainment artists, voice artists and supporting artists.

Musicians Union

Musicians Union is open to musicians, musical educators, and composers, assisting with royalties, supporting hearing, wellbeing and health, as well as the services and support listed above.

Community

Community is open to people who are self-employed and freelancers, and campaigns include sick pay, safety and sustainable industries.

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Unsure what union you should join? The TUC can help point you in the right direction. Or check out UVW – United Voices of the World. 

Share your experience

Do you have a union experience you’d like to share? Or a union to recommend? Contact us.

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