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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 and our New Unionism campaign.

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.

Office of National Statistics
This is a government body which carries out research on a huge number of issues from crime to fishing. They have a section on the labour market which includes trade union membership statistics.

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. A new survey is being conducted during 2004.

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.

There are also some free pamphlets published in the Know Your Rights section of this website. Other sites with useful information:

Concilliation service ACAS offers rights advice online as well as selling booklets.

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:

Commission for Racial Equality
A publicly funded, non-governmental body set up under the Race Relations Act 1976 to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality.

Disability Rights Commission
Established in 2000 to promote equality opportunity for disabled people.

Equal Opportunities Commission
The expert body in Great Britain on equality between women and men.

Rise festival
The TUC co-sponsors this free anti-racist festival in London every year.

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