Join us in the global fight for social and economic justice
Keep in touch | What are unions doing? | More
about trades unions
Trades unions in the UK and around the world are constantly campaigning on issues of social and economic justice, including those issues that Make Poverty History focused on - Trade, Aid and Debt.
Keep in touch
The best way to find out how you can get involved in these ongoing campaigns as well as hear all the latest news, is to sign up to 'International Development Matters', the TUC's free monthly e-newsletter.
| Some current union activities: |
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Amicus has an ongoing campaign with Action for Southern Africa called 'Africa Matters' |
| PCS union is campaigning against forced privatisation of public services in developing countries |
| Unison 's international unit works with sister unions around the world and offers its members numerous ways to get involved. |
| The TUC runs campaigns in conjunction with a global network of trades unions, including the International Confederation of Free Trades Unions and Global Unions. |
What are unions doing?
The Make Poverty History campaign will continue at a global level (as the Global Call to Action Against Poverty) and unions, led by the ICFTU, will remain key players. Find out more about trade union involvement and how you can get involved.
In 2006, the TUC will be building on our Play Fair campaign on improving the exploitative conditions of developing country workers in the sportswear industry, to focus on broader concerns with trade, labour standards and multinational companies regulation in both developed and developing countries. For future details on how you can get involved, subscribe to the free TUC email newsletter International Development Matters.
Through funding from DFID, the TUC helps unions and their members to get involved in international development initiatives. This includes development education and project funding opportunities, including the chance to invite developing country trade unionists to the UK to share their experiences with British trades unionists. Please note that the funding is due to end in Spring 2006 but a new agreement is currently being negotiated so watch this space...
> Read more about unions and international development
More about trades unions
The trades union movement is a global movement built on collective action and solidarity. At times we all need advice or support in connection with employment. Unions exist to help people at work and to make the workplace a better place. In the UK, everyone has the legal right to join a union - it costs less than you might think and your employer doesn't have to know that you've joined. The average cost of being in a union is only 92p a week for part-timers and £1.99 for those working full-time.
Trades unions:
- Give advice when members have a problem at work
- Represent members in discussions with employers
- Help improve wages and working conditions by negotiating with employers
- Make sure that members' legal rights are enforced at work
- Help members take cases to employment tribunals and even the courts if necessary
- Provide education and training courses
- Fight discrimination and help promote equal opportunities at work
- and much, much more...
To find out more about your rights at work, how to join a union or which union is the right one for you and your industry, phone the TUC's Know Your Rights on 0870 600 4882 or visit workSMART, the TUC's work advice website at: www.worksmart.org.uk/unionfinder
Fact sheet (1,100 words) issued 6 Jan 2006
