Can you Join a Trade Union in FinTech? What Employees Need to Know

High-growth ambitions form the bedrock of the FinTech industry’s impressive success. Workers in this sector are experienced with a pace of rapid growth, constant ‘newness’ and pressure. And there can be an "always-on" culture in the workplace. 

Following recent redundancy waves across the sector, many employees have faced a tough reality: internal HR departments are there to protect the company’s interests. They aren’t looking out for you, the employees. Our recent research found that 60% of financial workers feel less secure in their roles now than they did five years ago (FSU annual report, 2025). 

Many FinTech workers believe the common myth: "I work at a startup, so a trade union isn't for me." In reality, the right to professional workplace representation is a fundamental legal right. A modern trade union like the Financial Services Union (FSU) operates as a progressive, professional network tailored specifically for tech and FinTech professionals.

Joining a Trade Union in FinTech

Every employee in Ireland has a legal right to join a workers' union. Your union membership is completely private. Your employer doesn’t need to know you’ve joined. And it is illegal for a company to discriminate against anyone for union membership. You can check your contract of employment for "Freedom of Association" clauses. And remember, any restrictive "no-union" clauses are legally unenforceable.

Even if your FinTech employer doesn’t formally recognise a union for collective bargaining yet, you still have the right to be represented by your union in disciplinary meetings or grievance procedures. If you are navigating a difficult Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) or if you received an unsatisfactory performance rating, you don’t have to face this alone. The FSU stepped in to help Sarah, a tech employee, challenge an unfair rating. 

You may be dealing with right-to-disconnect violations, sudden restructuring, or complicated equity and bonus structures - these are all instances where the FSU Advice Centre team has years of experience. You don’t need to wait until an issue escalates into a serious problem; we’re here to help you understand your position.Employee union membership: What are the benefits?

Research consistently shows that employees represented by trade unions secure better pay, fairer terms, and stronger working conditions than non-union workers.

If you have shared workplace concerns like heavy workloads or a lack of pay transparency, talking to trusted colleagues about your employee union is the first step toward collective progress. A professionally represented, united workforce is always in a stronger position to negotiate a better deal. As Adam, a FinTech employee, shares:

“When we ran into serious issues at work, FSU gave us clear, practical advice when we needed it most. They helped us understand our options and move forward with confidence. Responsive, easy to talk to and genuinely supportive throughout.”

By choosing to join the FSU, you join a growing community of thousands of members across Ireland. We have represented FinTech workers for over a decade in our current form, backed by over a century of financial services advocacy. Read about the benefits of joining our trade union. 

How the Financial Services Union can help FinTech workers

The FSU is your independent, trustworthy ally. We are completely separate from your employer’s HR department. Our friendly, knowledgeable Advice Centre team provides confidential advice. 

We can be your first port of call on modern issues like remote work disputes, contract queries, restructuring and redundancy, and pay transparency. And, we can provide support during disciplinary or grievance procedures, representing you, if needed. 

You don’t need to wait for a crisis. If you have a specific question? Contact us for a confidential chat. Take charge of your career and explore the benefits of becoming an FSU member today.

Contact our Advice Centre team for a free 15-minute call.