Basic Income for Net Zero: Trade Union Perspectives

22 December 2025 | Basic Income Research Group, UBI Lab Greater Manchester, UBI Lab Network & Common Sense Policy Group

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This report analyses engagement with UK trade unions on Basic Income (BI). Unions ‘firefighting’ issues such as pay erosion, workplace disputes and job cuts lack time to engage with long-term transformative ideas such as BI, prioritising proposals they believe a Labour government might consider. They also believe policy change must stem from members. They identify 6 arguments against BI:

1. It is not economically feasible

2. It enhances scope for employer exploitation

3. It threatens trade union relevance

4. It could undermine other policies that unions do support, such as Universal Basic Services

5. It may undermine public sector jobs

6. It is subject to misconceptions among members

However, several areas of support for BI did emerge:

1. It protects against automation and AI

2. It strengthens workers’ bargaining power

3. It supports equality and social mobility

4. It re-opens an ambitious social vision

Unions emphasised several conditions that must be met before taking a definitive pro-BI stance:

1. Demonstration of economic, labour market and public service feasibility from large trials

2. A clear, credible and progressive funding model

3. Assurance against exploitation

4. Support from members to indicate institutional social feasibility

5. Government interest to indicate political feasibility

Importantly, greater Green New Deal engagement means that demonstrating BI’s ability to support a just transition could increase union support.