Labour councils working with Trade Unions

The document is reviewed annually and was formally adopted by the LGA Labour Group in July 2022.


The Local Government Association (LGA) Labour Group has developed and formally adopted a ‘Labour Local Government and Trade Union Principles’ document, in partnership with the local government unions – UNISON, GMB, and Unite. The agreement is designed to help establish and strengthen the dialogue between Labour council leaders and councillors and local staff trade unions.

It sets out the standards which the LGA Labour Group believe should be met by Labour councils in their relationships with the unions and their policies, and covers austerity, good industrial relations, exemplary employment practice, the LGPS, promoting equality and in-house services, opposing academisation, and the Trade Union Act.

The document is reviewed annually and was formally adopted by the LGA Labour Group in July 2022.

Alongside the adoption of the Principles, the LGA Labour Group also agreed a set of Joint Priorities for 2020/21 with the local government unions, which sets out the key issues which we intend to work on together over the coming year.