Trade union law firm launched

A new law firm, UNIONLINE, has been jointly launched by the GMB general union and the CWU communication workers’ union to provide legal services to their 820,000 trade union members.

The firm is based in Sheffield and is unique as the first ever union-owned law firm.

“Our aim”, says GMB general secretary Paul Kenny, “is to take on the high street firms and the ambulance chasers off the television, with a quality national law firm with ethical values in line with the trade union movement”.

The firm offers a comprehensive legal service to members and their families, including employment, discrimination, immigration, benefits and property and family issues.

And it promises that there will be no deductions from personal injury awards, enabling clients to keep 100% of their compensation.

Launching the service, CWU general secretary Billy Hayes described the move as a “unique opportunity for both the CWU and GMB to compete in a previously highly-regulated industry”.

Hayes said that the two unions “want to make sure our members get the very best legal advice”. He added: “By creating and operating their own legal services, we can ensure that.”

The innovative venture has significant plans for the future and looks forward to giving trade union members an advantage in their choice of legal services.

More information about the new firm can be found on UNIONLINE’s website at www.unionline.co.uk, and by calling the firm on 0300 333 0303 or by emailing [email protected].