Electrical Trades Union (United Kingdom)

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) was a trade union in the United Kingdom representing electricians, electrical engineers, and related workers. It was formed in 1889 as the Electrical Trades Union and Cable Jointers' Association, later shortened to the Electrical Trades Union.

The ETU was a significant union within the British Trades Union Congress (TUC). Throughout its history, the ETU focused on improving wages, working conditions, and training standards for its members within the electrical industry. It played a key role in negotiating national agreements and advocating for policies that benefitted electrical workers.

The union's history is marked by a significant internal scandal in the 1960s, involving allegations of ballot rigging and electoral fraud. This scandal led to a protracted legal battle and had a lasting impact on the union's reputation.

In 1992, the ETU merged with the Plumbing Trades Union to form the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union (EETPU). The EETPU later merged with the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union (AEEU) in 2001, becoming Amicus. Amicus subsequently merged with the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) in 2007 to create Unite the Union, one of the largest trade unions in the UK. Therefore, the ETU no longer exists as a separate entity, but its legacy continues within Unite the Union.