International Trade Union Organisations

The global trade union movement covers every continent and involves over 150 million working people. The TUC plays a leading role in international trade unionism, and we are a major founding affiliate of the main global confederations. We are principally involved in:

• The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU): the ICFTU is the global body for national trade union confederations and was founded in 1949. It is based in Brussels, has a regional structure covering Africa, the Americas and Asia/Pacific, and is in the process of developing a broader trade union movement including the World Confederation of Labour Visit the ICFTU website. [www.icftu.org] The TUC is represented on the Executive Board and Steering Committee as well as the Women’s Committee and many working groups. The General Secretary is Guy Ryder and the President is Sharan Burrow.
• The International Labour Organisation (ILO): The International Labour Organisation, based in Geneva, is the UN specialised agency for the workplace which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights. It was founded in 1919, and retains its tripartite character. The TUC has been represented on the Governing Body throughout the ILO’s history. Visit the ILO website. [www.ilo.org] The Director-General is Juan Somavia.
• The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) represents people at work in the European Union and those countries associated with the EU. In particular, the ETUC lobbies the European Union institutions, ensuring that workers interests are included in decisions about work, the economy and society. Visit the ETUC website. [www.etuc.org] The TUC is represented on the Executive Committee and Steering Committee and all its standing committees and working groups. The General Secretary is John Monks and the President is Candido Mendez.
• The Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC): TUAC is an international trade union organisation which represents organised labour’s view to the OECD. Visit the TUAC website. [www.tuac.org] The TUC is represented on the Administrative Board and Management Committee. John Evans is the Secretary General.The Global Union Federations (which together with the ICFTU form the global union family) are sectoral bodies covering specific parts of the global economy. The TUC is not formally involved with the GUFs, as membership is drawn from individual trade unions, but we maintain close links with all of them.