Unite's passenger transport trade group can trace its history back to 1873. With more than 95,000 bus, coach, taxi, tram and rail workers in the 150 large local companies and many smaller companies, too.
Unite has organised most of the employees of household names such as Stagecoach, First, Arriva and National Express. Indeed, approximately 90 per cent of Britain's local service bus workers, across most companies, and towns and villages in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, are in this powerful and active sector.
Unite Passenger Services has a big reputation for solid and militant action to defend its members. Another major issue is pay, which is being driven up, where necessary, though industrial action and public campaigns.
Unite is also the only truly national organisation for licenced taxi drivers, who in the main are self-employed, but the union represents the collective interests of the trade at all regulatory levels.
Key issues
Employment retention and reorganisation in the bus industry are notable concerns, with high quality training needed in most of the large bus companies.
Another major issue is pay, which is being addressed by members through negotiation and, where necessary, industrial action and continued campaigns.
Bobby Morton, national officer