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The TUC in Action

The TUC exists to promote the interests of people at work. We do this through campaigning, lobbying government for changes in the law, carrying out research which can be used by unions and developing services for union members.

The TUC carries out research and produces analyses on a variety of issues, including the economy, public services and employment law. We also help unions to organise and recruit members through our union Organising Academy.

Union membership and employment research

The most recent membership figures for each union affiliated to the TUC can be found on our list of Britain's Unions. The Department of Trade and Industry also produces reports on trade union membership statistics. Other employment research can be found on the TUC website.

Workplace Employee Relations Survey
Sponsored by a number of bodies, and with findings published on the DTI website, WERS is a large-scale, questionnaire-based survey of around 3000 workplaces, which collects data on employee-management relations.  It has been undertaken five times in 1980, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2004. Fieldwork for the sixth WERS (WERS6) is now underway and is scheduled to be completed by mid 2012. 

Joseph Rowntree Foundation
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is the UK's largest independent social policy research and development charity. It supports a wide programme of research and development projects in housing, social care and social policy.

Rights at Work

WorkSMART, the TUC's specialist website, is a useful starting point for rights at work advice and for finding which union you should join.

The TUC publishes a series of free leaflets explaining your rights at work and dealing with other common workplace problems. You download these online here, or read them online at Know Your Rights section of WorkSMART. Other sites with useful information:

• Concilliation service ACAS
• The Department of Trade and Industry site explains employment legislation.
• The Citizens Advice Bureau offers advice on a whole range of issues.

Health and Safety

WorkSMART also gives advice on health and safety at work, an issue which the TUC takes very seriously. Our Health and Safety policy team produce regular information and have successfully campaigned, along with individual unions, for comprehensive legislation on the issue. The following health and safety websites are also useful sources of information:

• Health and Safety Executive
  The governmental body whose role it is to ensure that risks to people's health and safety from work activities are properly controlled. The website includes, advice leaflets about health and safety issues at work, health and safety statistics and consultative documents.
• Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
  Europe's leading body for individuals with a professional involvement in occupational safety and health.

The TUC and Equality

The TUC campaigns against discrimination both at work and in wider society. In addition to our equality section, the following websites may be useful if you want to know more about fighting discrimination:

Equality and Human Rights Commission
Equality and Human Rights Commission launched in October 2007 provides advice and guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month
It takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. The TUC supports LGBT History Month, held each February, and encourages unions to organise events during this period.

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