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The TUC has a history of developing analysis and research to inform economic and employment-related issues.

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Worker protections in the UK compared to the rest of the OECD

Report: Falling behind on labour rights

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Employment Rights Act

The Employment Rights Act introduces major reforms to UK employment law, with changes being implemented in stages from December 2025 through to 2027.

Employment Rights Act

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'5008' reports listed

A fairly funded package of cost-of-living support

For most people, the cost of living remains the most important facing the UK. After years of falling real wages, poor growth and successive price shocks, too many people are struggling to afford the essentials and almost everyone is falling short of their aspirations for quality of life.

family food shopping

TUC submission for the 2026 budget

A growing economy is the best way to support a higher tax base, and increase the revenue coming into government. But with the wealthiest and banks in particular making large profits, partly due to the high interest rates that have worsened household finances, taxes on wealth should be used to finance immediate support. Beyond these immediate actions, we need reform to corporate governance rules and a debate on the fiscal framework’s ability to support growth.

downing street

Make Work Pay: holiday pay compliance and enforcement

Holiday pay is a fundamental employment right, but too many workers do not get the holiday pay they are entitled to. TUC analysis shows that 1.1 million employees (one in 25 employees) do not receive any holiday pay at all shows that 1.1 million employees (one in 25 employees) do not receive any holiday pay at all. This adds up to £2 billion in lost holiday pay a year.

Make Work Pay: workplace monitoring technologies

A TUC response to the government consultation into workplace monitoring technologies.

workplace surveilance

Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to respond to Acas's consultation on the draft Code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures. We support the overarching objective of improving workplace relations through the earlier resolution of concerns, promoting fair treatment, and reducing the personal and organisational costs associated with unresolved workplace conflict. The recognition in the draft Code that constructive employment relations are fundamental to both worker wellbeing and organisational effectiveness is a positive starting point for this review. 

Reindustrialise Britain

For forty years, the UK’s manufacturing industries and industrial communities have been structurally deprioritised by government and starved of investment. The result is an economy with a smaller industrial base, weaker productive investment and greater dependence on overseas capital than our European peers. The Government’s 2025 Industrial Strategy marked an important change of direction, but action has not yet matched the scale or breadth of the challenge to reverse deindustrialisation.

Young people and work - a call to action

Alan Milburn’s interim Young People and Work report rightly recognises that the crisis of over one million young people not in employment, education or training is not the fault of young people themselves. Rather, a generation has been failed by the institutions meant to support and prepare them for work, as well as an economy that didn’t provide opportunities that were available to previous generations.

Empowering people through data intermediaries

Our core mission is to protect and advance the interests of working people. How workers’ personal data is captured, analysed, and used in the workplace – as well as how workers and their unions can access and benefit from that data – is a key concern for the TUC. It is crucial that workers have rights to access their own data, are protected from employer misuse of data and are informed about these rights.

Misogyny and the manosphere insights to build a trade union response

Trade unions have long highlighted misogyny as a workplace and societal issue. At our statutory conferences and Congress, as well as through our direct engagement with affiliates, we are hearing increased concern about how online influencers and content are shaping society, as well as the rise of misogyny in workplaces and the links to the broader far right movement.

Cropped shot of young man typing on laptop

Final Agenda - Congress 2026

Motions and nominations for the 158th annual Trades Union Congress 2026.

final agenda

TUC calls on new government to make sure workers have a voice, rights and a fair share on AI

A letter to Kanishka Narayan and Kate Dearden to make sure workers have a voice, rights and a fair share on AI.

TUC Equality Audit 2026

This year’s equality audit focuses on what steps unions have taken in the last four years to promote equality in their membership, structures and processes, and to ensure they reflect the diversity of our membership. Building a diverse movement, that is reflective of our membership across all levels, is a crucial strategic priority for the TUC.

equality audit 2026

Who are the NEETs?

At the time of the 2021 Census, around one in eight (13.5 per cent) young people were not in employment, education or training (NEET). The NEET rate peaked in 2011 following the financial crash and the austerity agenda of the coalition government, but it has remained persistently high.

Portrait of sad upset redhead girl looking aside thinking about life problems, feeling lonely while spending time alone at home. Mental health, melancholy mood

Employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children

The TUC welcomes this consultation and supports action to strengthen employment rights for unpaid carers and parents of seriously ill children.

caring for a child

TUC Cymru Congress 2026

TUC Cymru is the voice of Wales at work. Every other year, workers from across Wales gather to decide our priorities. Each of our unions sends a delegation who debate the big issues in workplaces and pass resolutions which state our policy and priorities. This supplementary report to TUC Cymru’s 2026 Congress lists every resolution which was agreed by delegates.

TUC Cymru Congress 2026

LGBT+ workers - threats to workplace equality and community inclusion

This report examines the potential implications of proposals to repeal the Equality Act 2010 and the Employment Rights Act 2025, alongside actions taken by some local authorities affecting LGBT+ visibility, inclusion and support. It explores the likely impact of changes to workplace and equality protections for LGBT+ people and considers public opinion on these issues.

workers together

General Council Report 2026

This report contains details of the work undertaken by the General Council during the past year, 2025-2026.

general council report 2026

Pensions 2050: Evidence and future priorities

The second Pension Commission’s interim report provides a clear and urgent call to action. It describes a system in which, although participation rates in workplace pensions have doubled due to auto-enrolment, up to 19 million working age people are not on track to meet the retirement income targets set by the first Pension Commission.

Strengthening seafarer protections

The lack of employment protection for seafarers was demonstrated in March 2022 when P&O Ferries sacked 786 workers without notice by video call. Since then, RMT and Nautilus, supported by the TUC, have worked together to make the case for strengthening the employment rights of those who work at sea.

SEAFARERS

Ending one-sided flexibility

The Employment Rights Act 2025 represents the most significant upgrade to workers' rights in a generation. Together with wider reforms set out in the government’s Plan to Make Work Pay, these measures offer an opportunity to reset the UK labour market after decades in which insecure work has become increasingly embedded.

DELIVERY DRIVER

Artificial intelligence, business and the future of the workforce

TUC response to the Business and Trade Committee call for evidence. The TUC has both the representational mandate and the practical expertise – drawn from our member unions operating across diverse industries – to speak to the real-world impacts these technologies are having on workers.

Disrupting digital pathways

As far-right presence and influence online and offline grow sharply, it is crucial to understand how these messages are spread and received in digital spaces. This report serves as the first digital mapping of the far-right from the union movement perspective, with the aim of directly supporting unions.

Social media icons

Make Work Pay: Strengthening the law on tipping

Tips are intended for workers and should be under their democratic control. However, when employers influence how tips are distributed, those funds are often used to cross-subsidise the wages of management or back-of-house staff.

tips

Proposals on the school support staff negotiating body

The TUC fully supports the government’s ambition to establish a dedicated negotiating body for school support staff to improve employment conditions within the sector. We welcome the opportunity to respond to this consultation.

Lessons from education unions building power on AI

A review of the education project, looking at structure, outcomes and lessons learned.

teacher

Make Work Pay: Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)

The TUC strongly supports the measures introduced via the Employment Rights Act 2025 to tackle the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). We know that NDAs can be used to prevent parties from disclosing information about workplace misconduct. Evidence has emerged in recent years, including through several parliamentary inquiries, about the misuse of NDAs by some employers to silence workers from speaking out on sexual harassment complaints and other misconduct.

hand passing a document

Consultation on proposals for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013

The most effective tool that we have in ensuring good health and safety at work is trade unions, because organised workplaces are safer workplaces. Evidence shows that workplaces with union safety reps and joint union-management safety committees have major injury rates less than half of those without. Unions make a difference.

Make Work Pay: Call for evidence on Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations

Trade union officials and workplace reps have extensive experience of representing members during TUPE transfers, both through information and consultation arrangements and by ensuring that members benefit from their TUPE-related rights. However, the TUC believes that the regulations, as they currently stand, fail to protect workers’ key rights, as they transfer to another employer.

worker

Futureproof social tariffs

TUC proposal for a crisis-proof, targeted, flexible approach to domestic energy support in 2026.

Make Work Pay: Modernising the Agency Work Regulatory Framework

Our affiliated unions represent agency workers across a range of sectors, both in the private and public sector. Agency work is one of the prevalent forms of insecure work and agency workers are a significant part of the labour market. We estimate that there were at least 789,000 people in the UK working through an employment agency during the final quarter of 2025.

Female daycare worker cleaning changing table surface

Make Work Pay: Consultation on improving access to flexible working

The provisions in the Employment Rights Act are welcome, and our response provides a trade union view on how to ensure the duty to consult process is robust, fair and consistent. We also believe that legislative change needs to go further if we are to ensure that flexible working is the default for all workers.

Young People and Work Report: Call for evidence

The youth NEET crisis has been years in the making and is now being exacerbated by slow economic growth. We need urgent action now - for the generation who have already been let down and the children who are already coming next. A successful response must focus on creating quality, paid work and apprenticeship opportunities, alongside sustained investment in skills, education, health and social security.

Threshold for triggering collective redundancy obligations - TUC response

The TUC strongly welcomes the policy intent behind these measures: to reform the collective redundancy process to enable wider consultation with affected employees. However, we urge the government to consider a far more ambitious second threshold test for collective consultation to ensure that more workers benefit from a collective voice during a redundancy process and that there is more than a token change in the number of consultations taking place.

TUC response to Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment: Call for Evidence

The evidence shows a system that is difficult to access, unreliable and poorly aligned with modern working life. Respondents called for both structural reform and a shift away from treating claimants as a problem, towards recognising disabled people as workers with legitimate needs.

Staying safe online and at events, while supporting trans, non-binary and gender diverse workers' rights

Hostile anti-trans narratives have fuelled worrying levels of hate crimes against trans and non-binary people. This in turn has fostered a febrile environment where many trans and non-binary people, and their allies, have felt unsafe and been exposed to violence, attacks and hostility both online and in person.

Close-up of thoughtful transgender nurse looking away

The human price of dynamic pay

11 worker case studies show how platform pay systems are affecting work and home lives. The report calls for action on three fronts: ending dynamic pay-setting, reforming employment status, and strengthening collective data rights for transparency and bargaining.

Uber stock image

No worker left behind

Black workers continue to face racism, insecurity and unequal treatment at work across the UK. The findings from No worker left behind demonstrate that despite greater awareness of racial inequality in recent years, many Black workers still encounter hostile workplace cultures, structural barriers to progression and unsafe working conditions.

Businesswoman attending team meeting with colleagues at office

Skills passport survey

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Skills Passport Survey conducted by Skills England. This response has been informed by engagement with several of our affiliated trade unions, reflecting perspectives from across the workforce. The TUC has responded to all six questions in the survey.

skills passport

TUC submission to the Education and Work Pensions Select Committees inquiry on the child poverty strategy

The TUC welcomes the Labour Government’s 10-year Child Poverty Strategy and its efforts to address high child poverty levels. Measures such as ending the two-child limit, expanding free school meals are expected to significantly reduce child poverty.

Duty to inform workers of their right to join a trade union

The TUC and our affiliated unions warmly welcome the proposal included in the Employment Rights Bill to introduce a duty on employers to inform their workforce of their right to join a trade union.

andy aitchison

Protection from detriments for taking industrial action

The TUC strongly welcomes the government’s preferred option of prohibiting all detriments for taking industrial action.

bus drivers on strike

Make Work Pay fire and rehire - changes to expenses, benefits, and shift patterns

Fire and rehire and fire and replace are particularly egregious practices that have been repeatedly resisted by workers and condemned by politicians across the political spectrum.

young workers

TUC response to Work and Pensions Select Committee Inquiry - Youth employment, education and training

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to this call for evidence. Trade unions have a long tradition of campaigning to bring down worklessness and ensure more quality jobs for young people, including involvement in the design of the successful Future Jobs Fund under the previous Labour government and in supporting apprentices and vocational training. It is no coincidence that many of the apprenticeship programmes with the greatest demand are those where unions have negotiated a high-quality apprenticeship offer that is open to all.

Member voice in pension scheme governance

This report presents research conducted for the Trades Union Congress on member representation in pension scheme governance, in the UK and internationally. It looks at how members have a voice in decisions that affect their pension outcomes, the benefits this brings, and how that voice is changing as schemes become larger and more centralised.

Engineers having conversation at wind farm - stock photo

The shop assistant folding your shirt and placing it in the carrier bag is actually a self-employed entrepreneur. Or so some stores would have you believe. After years of rising insecurity in the labour market, some employers are taking matters a step further and hiring staff from agencies that claim to supply self-employed freelancers.

Draft Code of Practice on electronic and workplace balloting

The TUC strongly welcomes these long overdue measures to allow electronic balloting and extend the use of workplace balloting in statutory ballots. It has been a longstanding demand of the trade union movement that the government remove restrictions preventing unions using electronic and workplace balloting for all votes and elections.

ballot box

Make Work Pay: Consulation on Leave for Bereavement including Pregnancy loss

Our affiliated unions represent workers across a range of sectors in the labour market, both in the private and public sector, many of whom will have been affected by bereavement or pregnancy loss. Trade unions negotiate best practice workplace policies on bereavement leave and pregnancy loss, meaning we are in a unique position to know what support mechanisms and working practices are most effective for working people.

Health and safety representatives survey 2024 - 2025

This is the 15th biennial TUC survey of health and safety representatives. The report is used by the TUC to understand the changing experience of safety representatives at work and to help provide more targeted support. We also use the survey to inform public policy debates. The TUC also wants union safety representatives and safety committees to discuss and use the report to help with their ongoing work.

A ship maintenance worker is maintaining the ship's engine room

Post-16 Level 3 and below pathways

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to respond to the government’s consultation on post-16 Level 3 and below pathways. These pathways are essential for providing learners with clear, high-quality progression routes to further study and employment.

young student

Save British ceramics

The British ceramics industry stands at a critical juncture. Once a global leader, this cornerstone of Britain’s manufacturing and design heritage has seen a wave of closures and consolidation that now threatens its existence.

Various shaped, unglazed vases / urns sit in a row, illuminated in sunlight

Further education initial teacher training and development

The FE sector is central to delivering skills for economic growth and social mobility. High-quality professional development for FE teachers is essential to maintain standards, address skills shortages, and support inclusive learning. However, systemic barriers, funding constraints, workload pressures, and fragmented provision limit access to CPD.

Mid adult female teacher sitting on desk with classroom door open

TUC submission Autumn Budget 2025

The UK faces an unprecedented set of economic and social challenges: years of poor growth, falling living standards and decimated public services. The drivers include reckless reductions in public capital investment and public service spending; a bad Brexit deal; and a lack of any genuine industrial or labour market policy under the previous Conservative government.

downing street

Making Work Pay: call for evidence on unpaid internships

We welcome the opportunity to engage with this Call for Evidence and present our views on the most effective way to stamp out exploitation experienced by young people undertaking unpaid internships, work trials and work shadowing.

Senior CNC Waterjet Operator Instructs Young Apprentice

Unions and online safety campaigners call on MPs to stop TikTok “sacrificing online safety” with mass AI-driven job cuts

Unions and some of the UK’s highest profile online safety campaigners have called on MPs to urgently investigate a proposed wave of over 400 job cuts from TikTok’s London office.

The experience of insecure work

The UK’s insecure work crisis is deepening, with 4 million people now trapped in jobs that deny them stability, dignity, and fundamental rights. One in eight workers face precarious employment - whether through zero-hours contracts (ZHCs), agency work, or low-paid self-employment - amid a labour market increasingly designed around employer flexibility at the expense of worker security.

woman stressed sitting at a laptop

An ambitious plan for young people

The UK faces a growing crisis in young people’s labour market participation with rising numbers out of education, employment and training and for those in employment, too many are trapped in low paid, insecure and poor-quality work.

young workers

The scale of insecure work in the UK

TUC analysis of labour market data shows that 4 million people in 2024 were in insecure work. This amounts to around one in eight of the workforce.

warehouse

Bank taxation - 2025

The TUC is now calling for a windfall tax on bank profits. This can be done by raising the Bank Surcharge which directly taxes bank profits.

Summary of the Child and Women's Abuse Studies Unit independent evaluation of the TUC's pilot trail

This report outlines what has been learnt about the process of moving from betrayal to courage for unions taking part in the pilot project, reporting on key learnings and outcomes. The overall reflection on the completion of the pilot is that institutional courage requires key mechanisms to be in place to not just create but sustain it.

Parental leave call for evidence

Overall, it is the TUC view that the existing system of statutory parental entitlements does not meet the current government’s stated objectives, our view on each objective and supporting evidence is set out below.

Worker

Building a pro-worker AI innovation strategy

A comprehensive platform for how the UK can shape technology towards good jobs, resilient public services and socially useful innovation.

Datafication by Kathryn Conrad kathrynconrad.com/

General Council Report 2025

This report contains details of the work undertaken by the General Council during the past year, 2024-2025.

general council report

TUC response to Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to provide evidence to this Green Paper, though we were disappointed the full Green Paper was not open for consultation, especially considering the scale of benefit cuts proposed.

TUC Aid 1988 - 2025

TUC Aid has delivered 37 years of practical solidarity in action. Throughout, it’s been a brilliant example of unions delivering change by working in partnership. Together, we’ve really put internationalism into practice, supporting workers across the world.

Keep Britain working: an independent review into the role of employers in health and disability

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to provide evidence to this review on what more the government and employers can do to tackle economic inactivity due to ill-health and disability, and support people who have ill-health or who are disabled in work.

Male engineer working at containers yard

TUC response to the Equality Law Call for Evidence

The TUC has consulted with affiliates and stakeholders in developing its response to this call for evidence. In doing so our response sets out evidence, themes and key priorities for reform. We expect that many of our affiliates will respond also and will provide more detailed and sector-based evidence.

Bullying, harassment and discrimination of Disabled people in the workplace

Disabled workers face persistent and widespread barriers in the workplace, despite longstanding legal protections. Our research findings consistently highlight the systemic nature of discrimination, inaccessibility, and inequality that disabled people encounter throughout their working lives.

disabled worker

EHRC Code of practice consultation

TUC response to the Code of practice for services, public functions and associations

Making work pay is good economics

The UK has experienced the longest pay squeeze in modern history, a proliferation of insecure work and stagnant economic growth. This has come alongside poor employment protection – with UK labour standards generally less protective than other developed economies.

Equality (Race and Disability) Bill: mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting consultation

The TUC welcomes the proposal to introduce legislation which will require employers to publish Race and Disability pay gap information. We have seen clear evidence in the first year of gender pay gap reporting of the impact of mandatory reporting of pay data

Young disabled entrepreneur discussing with coworker while in board meeting at workplace

Modelling the economic benefits of the Employment Rights Bill

The government has conducted a cost benefit analysis of the Employment Rights Act but acknowledges this is incomplete because it is not able to monetise many of the wider benefits of the package. Our analysis takes some of the benefits identified by government which have been left unquantified and produces quantitative estimates for them. This produces a central estimate for total benefits at £10.3 billion (ranging from £5.0 billion to £15.7 billion).

Disabled workers' access to reasonable adjustment

TUC Disabled Workers Conference and Disabled Workers Committee have consistently raised concerns regarding the huge barriers disabled workers face when getting into and staying in work. This includes significant difficulties in accessing reasonable adjustments.

reasonable adjustments graphic

Data intermediaries

TUC response to Department for Science, Innovation and Technology call for evidence, May 2025

TUC submission to Work and Pensions Committee inquiry- Getting Britain Working

We welcome the opportunity to respond to this inquiry, and to share our initial views on the impacts of DWP’s announced changes to disability and health-related benefits for working people across the country. This response focuses on policy changes announced to date. We will engage actively with government as they consult on wider reforms over the period ahead.

UK trade strategy must promote workers' rights and good jobs

Artificial intelligence for creative workers

Our manifesto outlines our values and proposals to address the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on creative work and workers.

Equality at work: paternity and shared parental leave

While employees in the UK have statutory entitlements to Shared Parental Leave, there are numerous issues with the legislation which the TUC has demonstrated through the course of our research and campaigning. The TUC believes fundamental reform of the system is needed alongside further improvements to other forms of parental leave and pay – including maternity, paternity and adoption, and investment.

Industrial decarbonisation strategy – union priorities

This briefing sets out our recommendations to use the industrial decarbonisation strategy to leverage a rapid and just transition across industry.

Proposal for new mandatory human and labour rights and environmental due diligence legislation

The TUC and unions are campaigning for new legislation that would give organisations greater legal responsibility for preventing labour and human rights abuses and environmental harms in their global value chains. We welcome Labour’s commitment in the National Policy Forum to “assess the best way to prevent environmental harms, modern slavery and human and labour rights abuses in both private and public sector supply chains including effective due diligence rules,” in government.

Guidance on using AI and algorithmic management in the Welsh public sector

This guidance has been developed and agreed by trade unions, public sector leaders and the Welsh Government through the Workforce Partnership Council. Its full title is Managing Technology That Manages People: A Social Partnership Approach to Algorithmic Management Systems in the Welsh Public Sector.

Guidance on using AI and algorithmic management in the Welsh public sector

Adult Social Care Reform: The Cost of Inaction Inquiry

We welcome the Health and Social Care committee’s recognition that longstanding inaction to tackle deep-rooted problems in the social care sector has a cost to workers, care and support service users and their families, the NHS and the economy. We hope this Inquiry will help to further build the case for reform in the sector and support the government in its work to implement its important commitments.

Consultation on creating a modern framework for industrial relations

The TUC warmly welcome this consultation on creating a modern framework for industrial relations and appreciate the opportunity to respond.

TUC response to Strengthening Statutory Sick Pay Consultation

The TUC's response to the government’s consultation on Making Work Pay: Strengthening Statutory Sick Pay.

Strengthening remedies against abuse of rules on collective redundancy and fire and rehire

TUC response to Department for Business and Trade consultation.

Application of zero-hours contracts measures to agency workers

TUC response to the government’s consultation on applying zero hours contracts measures to agency workers.

Supporting workers experiencing miscarriage and pregnancy loss

Pregnancy loss affects a quarter of all pregnancies, many trade union members and workplace reps will have supported someone who has experienced pregnancy loss, and many will have experienced it themselves. The TUC recognises that more needs to be done to support families experiencing pregnancy loss and to close the gap in statutory rights.

Black women's experience of sexual harassment in the workplace

The TUC undertook this research in collaboration with Queen Mary University of London in order to create a space for Black women to share their experiences and inform the work we do to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace. As the voice of more than 5.5 million working people, we have an obligation to ensure that our movement is responding to the biggest challenges working people face.

Mid adult, African American woman (30s) working in manufacturing facility

Disability pay and employment gaps

The latest TUC report on the disability pay and employment gaps show the persistence of the labour market inequalities that face disabled people.

TUC submission to the Industrial Strategy Green Paper

Good work should be a cornerstone aim of the strategy. The outcomes of the Industrial Strategy will primarily benefit working people where the strategy creates or maintains jobs and where it drives up job quality.

Toilets at work

A report on workers’ experience of toilet access and facilities.

Photo: Dirty toilet

The health and safety impacts of night working

This report provides a review of the literature on the impact of night and shift work on workers’ health and their families and an analysis of night work premia, based on rates provided by the Labour Research Department. It then sets out research exploring workers’ experience of night work and the impact it has upon their lives, the factors that shape their decision-making about night work, how both organisational and labour market factors and changes shape night work and the measures that employers and unions take to mitigate risk.

night working

Report summary: The health and safety effect of night work

This report investigates workers’ experience of night work and the impact it has on their lives. The research included five unions: the Communication Workers Union (CWU), The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA), Equity, and Community.

TUC Equalities Campaign Plan 2024 – 2026

Our Equality Campaign Plan provides affiliates with details of the overarching narrative for the work that we do to challenge inequality in the workplace and covers our work on Black workers, women, disabled workers, young workers and LGBT+ workers. The priorities outlined here have been identified by our democratic structures and through our statutory conferences and are set out in the context of the driving aims of the TUC running until 2026.

TUC submission to the Treasury for Autumn Budget 2024

The Autumn Budget should mark a further decisive break from the country’s recent past. Fourteen years of Conservative government has done huge damage to our economy and public finances. The scale of Tory of failure becomes more apparent each day, as the extent of the crisis facing our public finances and our public services is uncovered. This submission sets out the scale of the economic and fiscal challenges the country faces and evidences the need for change.

Making employment rights work

The new government was elected on a platform that included making the minimum wage a living wage, basic individual rights from day one and expanded family-friendly working. This report sets out a five-point plan to ensure that the enforcement system is able to support the new government’s plans.

TUC Equality Audit 2024

The 2024 audit looks at equality bargaining and covers a difficult yet inspiring time for our movement. It comes after the Covid-19 pandemic which exposed structural disadvantage and discrimination in our society and a cost-of-living crisis that disproportionately impacted Black workers, disabled workers and women. We’ve also had hostile attacks from the Conservative government on migrants, disabled people, trans people and other marginalised groups to deflect from the economic chaos they caused.

equality audit 2024 cover

Recommendations for the government's Warm Homes retrofit strategy

TUC policy priorities and recommendations for the Warm Homes plan.

An aerial view of urban streets in London

TUC generative AI policy toolkit

The toolkit helps reps and staff dig into the detail of policies introduced by employers around using Generative AI in the workplace, and negotiate policies that could better serve members' interests.

Bullying, harassment and discrimination of LGBT people in the workplace

This research from the TUC provides a powerful and important insight into the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans plus (LGBT+) workers of bullying, harassment and discrimination at work.

Portrait of a transgender mature man at work

General Council Report 2024

This report contains details of the work undertaken by the General Council during the past year, 2023-2024.

General Council Report cover, crowd of people at a rally

Promoting and protecting the rights of women workers in the agricultural sector in Palestine

Women make up the majority of the workforce in the agricultural sector in Palestine and the illegal settlements. They face systemic discrimination, low wages and poor working conditions. Most workers do not know about their rights or how to enforce them. The greatest challenge these women face is the negative impact of the occupation on the agricultural sector.

Strengthening democracy and accountability in the Eswatini trade union movement

The Kingdom of Eswatini is ruled by an absolute monarch and trade union rights are severely curtailed. The trade union movement is at the forefront of the struggle for democracy. Through training and education, this project aims to strengthen the democratic structures of TUCOSWA, as part of enabling workers to build democratic and accountable unions, states and institutions.

Falling behind on labour rights

This report reveals that the UK has long lagged most equivalent countries when it comes to safeguarding people at work. The gap widened after Conservative-led governments took power from 2010. This matters because separate research shows that strong labour protections are associated with better economic outcomes like higher employment and a greater share of profits for workers.

Consultation on clarification to TUPE and abolishing the European Works Councils' legal Framework

TUC response to Department for Business and Trade consultation. July 2024.

The AI Bill Project

The four-year project behind the TUC Artificial Intelligence (Employment and Regulation) Bill.

Artificial Intelligence (Regulation and Employment Rights) Bill

A "ready to go" AI and Employment Bill that sets out a legal framework to ensure UK workers have a voice in how AI is used at work.

Introducing fees in the Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal

Trade unions, their officials and union workplace representatives have extensive experience of representing members and helping them to resolve workplace disputes. The TUC believes that it is in the interests of all parties to resolve workplace disputes as swiftly as possible before they escalate. Where it is not possible to do this by using workplace procedures, unions will seek to defend their members’ interests by supporting meritorious claims to an employment tribunal. This experience means we understand just how important it is for workers to have unimpeded access to the justice system.

Making hybrid inclusive

Our research finds that access to and experiences of home/hybrid are inherently linked to other forms of discrimination at work, in this case workplace racism, and that well-designed hybrid working is essential to avoid exacerbating discrimination and also to promote equality.

Spring Budget 2024

The UK’s economic vulnerabilities are increasingly evident, and a strategy to protect our economy from recession and revive growth and living standards is imperative. In this submission we show that policy should be aimed at boosting public investment and repairing public services, ending the public sector recruitment and retention crisis. This should be accompanied by real support for jobs and living standards, a minimum wage target of 75 per cent of hourly pay, a jobs guarantee and permanent short time working scheme. Cost of living support should be extended (not halted) and government should set a path to improved social security payments and a new approach for those facing economic inactivity due to their health.

Women and Equalities Committee consultation on the rights of older people

We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the Women and Equalities Committee consultation on the rights of older people. Our consultation focusses on two questions – digital exclusion for older people, and what more needs to be done to support older people who want to stay in work longer.

Equal pay day 2024 – tackling the gender pay gap

There are many drivers of the pay gap ranging from socio-cultural and structural to workplace practice, to policy interventions. Closing the gap will require effort and measures from government, employers, unions, and wider civil/ society. We set out analysis of the pay gap as well as main drivers of the gap and specific recommendations to tackle the pay gap [and relatedly equal pay] as well as some broader recommendations.

A trade union bargaining guide on resource efficiency

This guide is aimed at trade union green or environmental reps and other trade union representatives who want to work with employers and members to reduce the environmental impact of their organisation through reducing waste and improving resource efficiency.

A trade union bargaining guide on resource efficiency

A trade union agenda for devolution

In this paper we present a trade union agenda for devolution, developed alongside our affiliated trade unions. We lay out principles and priority actions to ensure that devolution supports working people, reduces inequalities and delivers quality public services.

Minimum Service Levels consultation: education services

TUC is strongly opposed to the introduction of minimum service levels (MSLs) in education that arise from the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023. The Strikes Act is unfair, undemocratic, and likely in breach of our international legal commitments.

A snapshot of workers in Wales’ understanding and experience of AI

In this report, we give a snapshot insight into workers in Wales’ current experience of AI. This is intended to inform the union response to AI, and future actions by the Welsh Government and wider partners.

A snapshot of workers in Wales’ understanding and experience of AI

Consultation response to Work and Pensions Select Committee inquiry into Statutory Sick Pay

As soon as the pandemic hit the TUC exposed three fundamental problems with SSP: the three days that people have to wait before becoming eligible; the exclusion of workers because they do not earn enough to qualify; and the shockingly low level of the benefit, worth £96 a week then. We stressed the significant financial hardship caused by the policy, as well as the limits it placed on the national coronavirus response.

Portrait of a long-haired red-haired woman sitting on the sofa with cup of tea

Hiring agency staff to cover industrial action

We oppose the proposed repeal of regulation 7 of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003, which is a further and unjustified attempt to undermine the right to strike.

TUC and unions in Turkey call for trade talks to be suspended

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Department for Business and Trade consultation on an updated UK- Türkiye trade deal.

TUC Anti-Racism Task Force evaluation

The ARTF was a time-limited (2-year) Task Force which ended with a presentation of its work and findings at TUC Congress, October 2022. The TUC commissioned this evaluation to consider the effectiveness of ARTF in renewing the trade union movement’s commitment to campaigning against racism at work and to assess whether it represents an appropriate framework to steer the TUC and its affiliates towards building sustained and consistent work on race equality.

artf

Managing workplace change in the public sector

Public bodies sometimes change the way they deliver public services. This can have an impact on workers’ pay, terms and conditions. When public funding is limited, decisions might be taken to cut services, which can lead to major changes in services and the workplace. Changes can lead to redundancies and changes to terms and conditions. The Wales TUC and the public sector unions negotiated the Partnership and Managing Change agreement. The agreement helps ensure the voices of workers are taken on board before changes take place.

Jobs and pay monitor - young workers

New analysis published by the TUC shows that young workers face a harsh economic reality. Young workers not only face high unemployment rates, but are more likely to be on zero-hours contracts and in low paid work

young workers

TUC LESE Regional Council and Executive Committee

Find out more about LESE Regional Council and Executive Committee meeting dates.

Impact of the rising cost of living on women

The cost-of-living crisis is another crisis that women are at the sharp end of. Like the pandemic and over a decade of austerity, it is exacerbating the existing structural inequalities women face, leaving them less insulated from its impacts. This risks not only stifling any progress towards women’s economic and social equality but sending it into reverse.

nurse at a desk

In response to recent windfalls, this paper presents some options for increasing taxes to raise additional revenue from banks – and to renew a policy of fairer shares that has been abandoned by Sunak. Our estimates for the revenue these options will raise are all very conservative. This is because they are based on OBR forecasts from March 2023 which have not been adjusted for the larger than expected bank profits that have come in over the course of this year.

Jobs and pay monitor - disabled workers

Our latest report, using data from 2022/23, shows little progress when it comes to pay. The disability pay gap stands at 14.6 per cent. This is a drop from last year, when the pay gap was 17.2 per cent, but little change compared to six years ago. The pay gap is higher than it was in 2013/14 (the earliest comparable data), when it was 13.2 per cent.

Minimum Service Levels Consultation: Hospital services

TUC are strongly opposed to the introduction of minimum service levels (MSLs) in hospital services that arise from the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act. The Strikes Act is unfair, undemocratic, and likely in breach of our international legal commitments.

Anti-Racism in the workplace - 10 Actions for workplace reps

We’re choosing to stand up against racism and hate wherever we find it. We’re confident in our common values of respect and equality for all people in Wales. We are proudly listing the actions that we can take. Aimed at reps and union members they outline how we can all make a difference in our workplaces.

Anti-Racism in the workplace - 10 Actions for workplace reps

Call for evidence: non-statutory flexible working

The TUC’s response focuses on four key questions in the call for evidence.

10 steps towards LGBTQ+ inclusive workplaces

We have developed a 10-point action plan, that Trade Union reps can implement in workplaces across Wales to make real practical changes.

10 steps towards LGBTQ+ inclusive workplaces

A trade union bargaining guide for greener, healthier and fairer travel

Exploring why sustainable travel is an important issue for trade unionists and looks at what action can be taken in the workplace

Work-related travel

Code of practice on “reasonable steps”

The right to strike is a fundamental British liberty that is a vital part of ensuring a fair balance of power in the workplace. It is protected by the Human Rights Act 1998, Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 87 and Article 6(4) of the European Social Charter. It is therefore a core part of the UK’s international commitments.

Minimum service levels: issuing work notices

TUC response to draft work notice guidance. The TUC strongly opposes the introduction of minimum service levels. We believe that the regime initiated by the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 is draconian, unnecessary and unworkable.

An inspection of the immigration system as it relates to the social care sector - TUC response

TUC response to the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) call for evidence.

DLME Call for Evidence

Our recommendations and comments are wide ranging because the Director of Labour Market Enforcement has discretion, under Section 2 (d) of the Immigration Act, to make wide recommendations and observations about the labour market enforcement system. We believe four fundamental reforms are needed to boost the effectiveness of the labour market enforcement system:

Pulling all the levers

Active industrial strategies have become normalised in industrial nations eager to secure their domestic industries in the race to net zero. This report lays out a plan for a successful net zero industrial strategy.

TUC submission to the CEACR

Response to the CAS conclusions on Convention 87.

Tackling non-compliance in the umbrella company market

We welcome the opportunity to engage with this consultation and present our views on the most effective way to stamp out worker exploitation in the umbrella industry. The TUC believes that the only effective way to prevent the exploitation of workers by umbrella companies is to prohibit recruitment agencies and employers from using them.

Acas consultation on the flexible working Code of Practice

TUC response to Acas's consultation on the new draft flexible working Code of Practice.

A strategy for the care workforce

This report, developed with care workers and their trade unions, foregrounds care workers voices and experiences to spotlight current challenges across the care economy. We lay out the critical building blocks of a care workforce strategy that are common to childcare and social care. Our proposals will ensure all care workers in England are valued and supported, as a key means of addressing the current staffing crisis and improving access to and quality of social and childcare services.

care worker

Investing in our future

In this briefing TUC sets out the “Investing in our Future” programme, composed of existing trade union proposals for clean infrastructure investments. The briefing analyses what the next government could realistically deliver in a first term.

female engineer using robot

General Council Report 2023

This report contains details of the work undertaken by the General Council during the past year, 2022-2023.

Turkey: trade unions, crisis, repression

TUC briefing on the current political, economic, and legal situation for trade unions in Turkey.

Members of the trade union DISK surrounded by riot police in Turkey

Insecure work in 2023

Despite government promises to introduce “measures to protect those in low-paid work and the gig economy”, and to bring forward an employment bill that would “protect and enhance workers’ rights as the UK leaves the EU, making Britain the best place in the world to work” the government has done nothing to give workers greater security.

delivery driver

Trades union health and safety reps survey report

This is the 14th TUC survey of health and safety representatives, which we carry out every two years. We use this report to understand the changing experience of safety representatives at work and to help provide more support. We also use the survey to inform our campaigning priorities. We hope that unions and reps can use the report to help with their ongoing work.

engineers looking at turbine

Public Power: turning it into reality

This report calls for the UK government to set up a public energy champion to build new clean power, accelerate decarbonisation, create the high-skilled quality green jobs of the future, and share the benefits of the climate transition with the population.

electricity pylons

Code of practice on dismissal and re-engagement consultation

Unions have an excellent track record of fighting fire and re-hire attempts by employers. Notable union campaigns include successfully fighting employers attempts to dismiss and re-engage at Tesco, Clarks, Douwe Egberts and British Airways. Nevertheless, the current legal framework still gives employers excessive leeway to impose unwarranted cuts to terms and conditions.

factory worker

Workers are not to blame for cost-of-living crisis

Still enduring the longest pay crisis for two centuries, workers now face the steepest inflation for 40 years. But rather than acting to reduce the impacts of these pressures on people’s living standards, the government has been quick to suggest pay needs to be further restrained, and even to blame working people for interest rate rises.

two workers in a factory talking

Labour Party Review: points-based system engagement

The TUC campaigns for a humane immigration policy that includes safe legal routes for refugees and asylum seekers to enter the UK. We have strongly opposed the government’s current approach to immigration in the form of the illegal immigration bill, which breaches the UK’s international commitments.

health care assistant

Work intensification

This report is a compilation of trade union case studies showing how ‘work intensification’ is a growing problem, across a number of sectors and occupations, with negative consequences for working people. The case studies give a real life perspective of how work intensification is affecting working people. They show how unions are negotiating with employers to come up with solutions to tackle work intensification.

production crew on set

Digitisation in the public sector

This report presents recommendations for union action as public services and work in said services become increasingly digitised. Methodologically, the report is based on interviews with trade unions and workplace representatives conducted in late 2022 as well as desk top research.

Candid portrait of mid adult black businesswoman smiling in meeting

10 steps towards LGBTQ+ inclusive workplaces

As the Welsh Government looks to deliver the LGBTQ+ Action Plan, trade unions are at the forefront of making sure that workplaces deliver decent quality, fair work for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer workers.

group talking around a table.

Increasing workers' influence over the African Continental Free Trade Agreement

This project will help expand the capacity of trade unionists in Cameroon to influence talks on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and related protocols to promote decent work, to oversee the implementation of the agreement, and to flag any harmful effects on workers.

Being LGBT+ at Work

Everyone should be safe, equal and respected at work. We at the TUC wanted to look beneath the headlines and see the everyday experiences of being LGBT+ at work in 2023. This report shows that homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are still very real in the workplace.

Consultation response to AI White Paper

TUC response to “A Pro-innovation Approach to AI Regulation” consultation from the perspective of workers and the workplace. We emphasise the importance of context specific governance of AI and highlight that the white paper does not provide specifically for the workplace. We believe this to be a serious omission in the government’s approach.

Austerity and the pandemic

To be prepared for a pandemic, a nation must have resilient health services. Those services must have sufficient staff and resources so that they can flex to meet emergency needs. And they must have rigorous and well-resourced contingency plans that can activated quickly to restrict transmission and treat the sick.

budget

DHSC Care workforce pathway for adult social care: call for evidence

In this submission we respond to the proposals, focusing on four key areas: tackling the recruitment and retention crisis in social care; workforce strategy; learning, skills and development; and funding and investment in the care workforce. We look forward to working with DHSC as it continues to develop the Care Workforce Pathway in the months to come.

care worker

The gender pensions gap

Why our pension system delivers lower incomes for women, and how to close the gap.

Jobs and recovery monitor - BME Workers 2023

BME workers face systemic disadvantage and discrimination in the labour market, whether it be lower employment rates and higher unemployment rates, lower pay, more insecure work, or occupational segregation.

Benefit levels in the UK

The UK’s benefits system has been dramatically weakened after harsh cuts since 2010. Over a decade of austerity, including benefit caps and freezes, a punitive sanctions regime and the introduction of the five-week wait for Universal Credit, has pushed working families into debt and poverty.

money

Briefing: Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (V2)

The TUC calls on MPs to oppose the provisions of the Bill that will result in the removal or dilution of workers’ rights and to propose amendments based on the TUC’s Manifesto, Dignity at Work and the AI Revolution.

Minimum Service Levels – Rail

We believe that the measures included in the bill are not only disproportionate but actively misguided, proposing an artificial and non-existent division between the interests of rail industry workers and rail passengers / wider society.

Minimum Service Levels Consultation: Ambulance service

We believe that the measures included in the bill are not only disproportionate but actively misguided.

Do not make amendments to the Equality Act on the current definition of sex - Letter to Kemi Badenoch

Trade union movement writes to the Secretary of State urging her not to act on the advice from the EHRC to redefine the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ to ‘biological sex’.

Joint letter to ministers to drop the dangerous Retained EU Law Bill

Unions, employers, and occupational health and safety bodies have written to the government to raise concerns about the Retained EU Law Bill. It is dangerous legislation which threatens to rip up key workplace safety protections. This joint letter sets out why the Bill should be ditched.

Public transport fit for the climate emergency

The climate emergency means we must act. But the benefits of affordable, reliable and extensive public transport are so great that we should want to anyway – for the lower cost of living and higher quality of life it will bring. This report lays out the blueprint for 21st century public transport, all that’s left is to build it.

train on a platform with people walking past

Panel composition in the employment tribunals and the employment appeal tribunal

The TUC believes that lay members should sit in all employment related cases, including fast track, unfair dismissal, whistleblowing and discrimination cases. Employment judges should only have discretion to sit alone, where a case involves complex issues of law, and all issues of fact are uncontested. We oppose proposals that reduce the role of lay members even further.

Workers' experience of Long Covid

This report is vital to draw attention to people who have fallen out of work, are underemployed, struggling to remain in or return to work because of the virus. If we do not take urgent action to ensure that people with Long Covid are properly protected we run the real risk of new, long-lasting inequalities being created with damaging impacts on people’s lives, our economy and our public services.

Nurse

Letter to the Office of National Statistics

TUC letter to the ONS regarding the pausing of the COVID-19 Infection Survey data collection - 21 March 2023

A woman writing on a tablet with graphs, tables and statistics on the screen

P&O Ferries mass sackings – one year on

How P&O Ferries broke the law, what ministers promised to do and how they failed to deliver.

Women’s health and the workplace

Women’s experiences in the workplace and the impact on their health, cannot be separated out from the discrimination and inequality women face more broadly in the labour market and across society. Our response therefore highlights specific challenges faced by women in the workplace and recommendations of how to tackle them, as well as highlighting broader structural issues that any health strategy for women must seek to address.

Jobs and recovery monitor - gender and pay

In this edition of our jobs and recovery monitor we are looking at the impact of gender on wages and employment, as well as the impact of the high cost of childcare on women in work.

illustration of overlapping women silhouettes

Letter to Suella Bravermen on the Illegal Migration Bill

The TUC express serious concern at the proposals contained in the Illegal Migration Bill. The government is developing a proposal that would exacerbate the problems with exploitation in the labour market and see modern slavery victims, trafficked to the UK for exploitation, denied refuge and sent back to the criminal gangs who trafficked them in the first place.

Creating a healthy labour market

Over recent years, the number of people in the UK who are economically inactive has risen sharply. This has been largely driven by an increase in the numbers of older people leaving the labour market before they reach state pension age. This initially led to discussion of a ‘great retirement’, but the latest data is clear that the real story is that a growing number of people are simply too sick to work.

workers in a factory

Support for childcare and early years

Across the UK, early years and childcare for pre-school aged children is unaffordable, inflexible and access to high-quality provision is unequal. A new deal for the childcare and early years sector must be part of a broader package of support for families that ensures every child gets the best start in life and support as they grow, and that no family is left worse off because they work and use childcare.

young children playing

Spring Budget 2023

TUC submission. At the Budget, the Chancellor must set out a genuinely new approach that builds for fair growth and decent jobs – recognising that rewarding the workers who keep the country running is the best way to ensure that growth benefits everyone.

From the doom loop to an economy for work not wealth

This paper outlines an alternative model to reset the balance in favour of work and away from wealth. These policies have a substantial international dimension, given inequalities and failures of work are no less apparent between countries as well as within them.

Workforce transitions and worker experiences during the pandemic

This TUC commissioned report examines the composition of workforces and labour market flux during the pandemic, with interviews reflecting lived experiences of the changing nature of work, examining terms and conditions and the impact of automation and technology.

warehouse worker

Employment practices and data protection – information about workers’ health

The TUC agrees with the ICO that health information is some of the most sensitive personal information that might be processed about workers. An online resource with topic-specific guidance on employment practices and data protection could be vital to workers, employers, trade unions and trade union representatives. But the draft guidance in its current form would not adequately support all the groups who might seek to use it.

Women and the Union Safety Rep role

The focus groups sought to better understand how we encourage more women to become safety reps, and which OSH concerns all reps require support from unions on. We brought together: women safety reps, established and new; women union reps with roles other than health and safety; women union activists with no formal rep role.

Asbestos still widespread among NHS trusts and boards

New research reveals many NHS premises still contain asbestos – including hospitals. Survey carried out by Labour Research Department (LRD) finds two thirds of NHS premises and buildings still contain asbestos, despite its use being banned 23 years ago.

Justice for Palestine briefing

We recognise that Palestinian workers and wider civil society are resisting the illegal occupation and want freedom and respect for their rights. We stand in solidarity with them. To help end Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, and promote respect for Palestinian rights and decent work, the TUC is calling on the UK government to...

Palestine flags

"I have nothing" - Workers' rights and the Qatar 2022 World Cup

This week, probably the most controversial – and certainly the most expensive - World Cup in history will kick off in Qatar. This report looks at the conditions faced by the largely migrant workforce that spent years getting the country ready to host the tournament.

Construction worker in Doha, Qatar

A growth plan that puts work before wealth

The Conservatives have led us into a situation where we face the longest recession for 100 years. This short briefing sets out why the Chancellor can and must take an approach that puts work before wealth.

Jobs and pay monitor - disabled workers

Building on our previous research, disabled workers are facing this cost of living crisis with less money in their pockets and often higher than average household costs.

Disabled worker working from home

Urgent action needed to address the disability pay gap - Letter to Kemi Badenoch

The TUC has written to women and equalities minister Kemi Badenoch to call for urgent action to address the disability pay gap.

Inquiry into access to emergency services

The crisis in our emergency services are a result of the recruitment and retention crisis, driven by a decade of government imposed pay cuts. The TUC is calling on the government to take immediate actions to remedy this and improve the quality of emergency services.

Ambulance workers

TUC Equality Audit 2022

The TUC Equality Audit 2022 considers the steps unions are taking to promote equality in their membership, structures and processes, and to ensure they reflect the diversity of their membership.

Cover

Trade union anti-racism manifesto

This manifesto sets out what trade unions, and the movement as a whole, will do to make sure we secure the economic and social justice of Black communities.

ARTF

Building an anti-racism trade union movement

This report focuses on the actions we are taking to ensure we see more of our Black members leading the work of our unions, and as we challenge employers and win better deals for our members at work.

Tackling and preventing sexual harassment

The TUC General Council established an Executive Committee working group in March 2021 to support unions in progressing work to tackle, respond to and prevent sexual harassment within our movement. This report provides an overview of the work to date and recommendations for next steps beyond Congress 2022.

Action plan to build an anti-racism trade union movement

This set of actions are a key outcome of the ARTF during its two-year tenure. This work has been informed by centring the voice of Black workers through research, conversations, events, roundtable events, activist forums and feedback from officials throughout our trade union movement.

Companies for People - How to make business work for workers

The quality of economic growth, and who benefits from it, are affected by how rewards, rights and power in businesses are distributed. This report sets out why we need reform to ensure that economic growth benefits everyone and our proposals to make it happen.

Public ownership of clean power: lower bills, climate action, decent jobs

The TUC is calling for the UK government to set up a public energy champion to invest into new clean power, accelerate decarbonisation, create the high-skilled quality green jobs of the future, and share the benefits of the climate transition with the population.

On the side of working people

TUC submission to the September 2022 ‘fiscal event’.

Linking employment charters to procurement

This briefing explores how charters have been linked to procurement in practice and the enabling conditions that have made this possible. These include individual ‘champions’ – notably elected officials; innovative procurement teams who are committed to putting social value objectives into practice; strategic engagement between contracting authorities and trade unions; active use of the enabling aspects of the legislative and regulatory framework; and providing support to employers to implement charter standards.

A replacement for Universal Credit

In this report we look at the issues with Universal Credit which form our critical opinion of the new system. We also highlight potential solutions within each area.

TUC submission to ILO committee of experts

A series of restrictions were placed on trade unions by the Conservative governments from 1979 to 1997 and 2010 onwards. The TUC is extremely concerned that these plans would severely impinge on unions’ rights under Convention 87, in particular by making it extremely difficult to take effective industrial action.

A new deal for the childcare sector

This briefing sets out the TUC vision for a new deal for childcare. The pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have shone a spotlight on the longstanding issues of funding, access, flexibility, and affordability for parents, and how undervalued the childcare workforce is.

Childcare

Still rigged: racism in the UK labour market

This important and sobering report lifts the lid on racism in our labour market, providing quantitative evidence of the scale of workplace discrimination facing Black workers.

The Bill of Rights Bill

TUC response to the Joint Committee for Human Rights consultation

Skills for jobs

Implementing a new further education funding and accountability system. TUC response to the government consultation.

Raising pay for everyone

Our approach is designed to deliver a return to normal wage growth, and an end to the longest pay squeeze in modern history. Underpinned by a plan to raise the minimum wage to £15 an hour so that no workers are left behind.

Healthcare assistant

General Council Report 2022

This report contains details of the work undertaken by the General Council during the past year, 2021-2022.

UK CEO Pay report 2021

This report analyses the pay of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 CEOs in 2021, as documented in the companies’ own retrospective annual reports for the year.

Covid-19: An Occupational Disease

A TUC report to call the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease, which would formally recognise the higher risk in certain jobs, and signify a need for greater support for affected workers and patients.

Chef

Jobs and pay monitor - Why we need a pay rise

This edition of our regular jobs and pay monitor sets out the arguments to show that workers can have pay rises without this leading to further inflationary pressure.

Copyright: www.markthomasphotos.com

Responding to the cost-of-living crisis: a plan for action

We need a plan to get families through the winter. But we have to recognise that this crisis is a result of successive failures of government. That’s why it’s vital we take action now to deliver sustained wage rises, real support for families, and a fair, secure and zero carbon energy system for the future.

Anti-Racism Taskforce: Listening activity roundtable

A summary from the TUC Anti-Racism Taskforce listening activity roundtable in May 2022.

Female black worker office

TUC responses to the reforming our fire and rescue service consultation

Firefighters have gone above and beyond to keep fire and rescue services going during the pandemic. Following a decade of cuts and pay restraint, fire and rescue services desperately need investment and professional standards of service to improve the service firefighters provide to our communities. The TUC believes the white paper does not address these issues.

Health, Safety & Racism in the workplace

This report, draws upon a survey and focus groups of Black workers and reps, including health and safety reps, to identify experiences of frontline workers during the pandemic and the role unions have played and could play.

Group talking

A fairer energy system for families and the climate

The TUC is proposing a pragmatic reshaping of the UK’s energy system, to be more in line with our European neighbours that are finding it easier to weather the current crisis:

Building an Anti Racism Network

Anti-Racism Network roundtables summary. Key players working in race policy in the UK cam together to explore the possibility of convening an anti-racism network and the current challenges the anti-racist movement faces.

The Trade Union Challenge: Winning Legal Race Discrimination Cases

The TUC Anti-Racism Taskforce, Strategic Litigation Roundtable summary.

Building worker power

Essays on collective rights 20 years after the Wilson and Palmer case established the right to be represented by a trade union

Insecure work - Why employment rights need an overhaul

It is notable that five years after the report of the Taylor Review of modern working practices that most of its flagship measures remain unimplemented. And the employment bill ministers repeatedly committed to appears to have been shelved. We need a new approach that restores power to workers to negotiate better rights.

Schools built for the future

Why teachers, headteachers, school staff, and construction workers back school buildings upgrades

School playground

Second State Pension age review

The TUC believes that plans to increase the State Pension Age to 67 from 2026 to 2028 should be shelved.

Pensioner

Organising workstream: regional mapping project

This report looks at the structures in place for Black workers across the TUC’s seven regions and nations in England and Wales

Black workers

Jobs monitor - the impact of the pandemic on BME employment

While the headline unemployment rate among all workers has returned to pre-pandemic levels, this isn’t true for Black and minority ethnic (BME) workers.

Harbours (Seafarers’ Remuneration) Bill Consultation

The measures in this consultation focus on the expansion of the minimum wage for seafarers. The TUC welcomes this. If implemented with effective enforcement and in a manner that reinforces collective agreements, it could provide some additional protection for vulnerable workers and reduce, to a limited extent, the financial gains sought by unscrupulous operators attempting to employ the cheapest labour.

Jobs and recovery monitor - bonuses

Lifting the veil: removing the invisibility of adult social care

TUC response to the House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee Inquiry.

Action on flexible working

Letter from MPs calling for action on flexible working

The fiscal cost of insecure work

The TUC is concerned about the prevalence of insecure work, most importantly because of the impact it has on workers. But it also has an impact on the economic stability of the country and on the public finances.

Gig workers

The future of rail funding in the UK

TUC reviews several models for funding and running a national rail industry and draws out lessons for the UK.

Passengers on platform at Waterloo

Making flexible working the default

The TUC welcomed the opportunity to submit a response to the consultation. The TUC and Flex For All partners created an online tool where members of the public could submit a response to the consultation. This report contains a summary of what 5744 members of the public told BEIS. We urge the government to listen to the voices of working people and ensure their experiences are included in their plans for amending flexible working legislation.

The UK Covid-19 inquiry - TUC response

Everyone must be heard for real lessons to be learned. So we encourage the inquiry to listen directly to working people and their unions. We stand ready to work with Baroness Hallett and her team.

P&O Ferries - A line in the sand

TUC and our unions in the sector believe P&O Ferries’ business model is unlawful, unsustainable and disreputable.

Public services workforce for the future

We welcome the opportunity to respond to the House of Lord’s public services committee inquiry. The TUC’s response to the inquiry will focus on recruitment, retention and training. A summary of our recommendations can be found above.

Prospective UK-Israel Free Trade Agreement

The TUC believes the government must require respect for fundamental human and labour rights as a pre-condition for any trade deal. As evidenced in this submission, successive Israeli governments have persistently violated international law and systematically violated Palestinian labour and human rights.

Ending the Pay Crisis

The spring statement comes in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, posing a terrible toll on the Ukrainian people. The TUC has called on the government for a diplomatic resolution, enforcement of sanctions, and funding to support aid and refugees to coming to the UK. The conflict is also likely lead to significant price rises, and further pressures on working people in the UK.

Worker pushing hand truck in warehouse

Older workers after the pandemic: creating an inclusive labour market

This report explores the substantial rise in older workers leaving the labour market before they reach state pension age, calling for major changes in the workplace. BME and ethnic minority (BME) and working class workers are also significantly more likely to be prematurely forced out of work.

Older engineer showing female teenage apprentice how to use lathe

Jobs and recovery monitor - wage squeeze continues

The ‘cost-of-living crisis’ currently hitting workers is not just about rising prices. High inflation combined with slow growth in pay is resulting in a real terms pay cut for working people.

Man making a contactless payment at a supermarket till

NHS workforce crisis - a decade in the making

This briefing sets out some of the issues behind the NHS’s recruitment and retention crisis and sets out the TUC’s key recommendations to resolve them. It contains first-hand testimonials from current NHS workers and trade union members, put in perspective with statistical evidence collected over the last 10 years.

Nurse

Protecting workers’ rights using the UK-EU trade and cooperation agreement' - TUC summary

Protecting workers’ rights using the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement - full report

A better normal

Thanks to the NHS, the successful vaccine programme has given us an opportunity to build back better in 2022, delivering the ambition of a high wage, high productivity economy, and the ability to enjoy our lives without fear. But government must seize and shape this opportunity, working with unions and businesses to deliver safe and decent work for everyone in 2022.

Opportunities and threats to the public sector from digitisation

This report considers the government's commitment to transforming public services through digitisation. It looks specifically at the impact of digitisation on the public sector workforce.

TUC opposes UK trade talks with Gulf states abusing human rights

Do dividends pay our pensions?

This report examines who benefits from shareholder returns and the extent to which dividend payments from UK companies are a significant source of income for UK pension funds.

Woman putting change into purse

Menopause and the workplace

Menopause is a key workplace issue impacting all women at some point in their lives. In this report TUC responds to the Women and Equality Select Committee inquiry.

Business woman working late in office

Reasonable adjustments

TUC have a vision for the future where all workplaces are accessible and inclusive. Discover our research and reports on reasonable adjustments and disabled workers' experience.

Business woman in wheelchair leading a discussion

Negotiating automation and new technology

Negotiating automation and new technology

Negotiating automation and new technology

The role of trade unions in international development cooperation

The struggle for decent work in the UK and around the world are interconnected. Our democratic structures connect trade unions in the Global North and South, therefore providing our movement with a unique role in international development.

People working in a shoe factory

TUC response to the government consultation on making flexible working the default

TUC responds to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy's consultation on making flexible working the default.

Business woman shakes hands with colleague

Data: A New Direction

Whilst we support the “pro-growth” approach outlined in this consultation as this results in more and better jobs, we do not believe that this should be to the detriment of the fundamental rights of individuals in the workplace. Indeed, growth and productivity is dependent on there being a strong framework in place to protect the rights of workers and ensure good quality and rewarding work.

The Challenge to Democracy in Brazil

This important report describes how the social progress achieved by Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff has been thrown into reverse by the governments of Michel Temer and now Jair Bolsonaro, the so-called “Trump of the Tropics”.

Activists of the CUT demonstrate against Bolsonaro

Negotiating the future of work: Net-zero

The nature of work is changing. We are currently undergoing a process of major economic transition and restructuring driven by the introduction of new technologies, and legislation requiring the whole economy to decarbonise in order to combat climate change. Unions need to act now to ensure that workers have a strong voice throughout the transition.

Just transition for workers

Jobs and recovery monitor - disabled workers

New findings on jobs and recovery for disabled workers facing both a disability pay gap and a disability employment gap.

Two engineers in overalls; one young woman standing next to a young man in a wheelchair

Statement of Solidarity with the General Labour Federation of Belgium (FGTB)

The UK Trades Union Congress is appalled to hear of the persecution of trade union leaders in Belgium.

Seven ways platform workers are fighting back

Globally the number of platforms has grown five-fold in a decade. It can seem that practices like casualisation, management by algorithm rather than human and a complete absence of trade unions are baked into the way that platform economy is run. There are fears that it is therefore only a matter of time before these spread to other jobs.

Worker cycling

TUC Briefing on the UK-Andean Trade Agreement

The TUC is concerned that the Colombian government is systematically violating commitments it made in the agreement to uphold human, labour, and trade union rights.

Flag of Colombia

Working in the UK - a guide to your rights

TUC guide on your rights at work with translations in 7 languages.

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Trade union statement on the decision to criminalise six Palestinian human rights and civil society groups

Jobs and recovery monitor - Pay and recovery

This report looks at the relationship between labour shortages and pay growth in the current economy.

Time for a new plan

This spending review is a chance for government to learn the lessons of the pandemic and to plan for the future. Our submission sets out what the government needs to do.

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Disabled Workers’ access to flexible working as a reasonable adjustment

An overwhelming majority of disabled workers who worked from home during the pandemic told the TUC that they want to continue doing so. Employers have a duty to put in place reasonable adjustments for disabled workers which can include enabling flexible and home working.

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Levelling up at work - fixing work to level up across the UK

This report argues that poor quality work is a key cause of broader inequality across the country. Unless we reduce the numbers of people in jobs that are in low-paid, insecure and offer no route to better quality work, little will change in the lived experience of a significant number and proportion of people across every part of the UK. We cannot level up the country without levelling up at work.

Denied and discriminated against

Time to change the law on flexible working: New TUC and Mother Pukka survey reveals half of mums don't have their requests accepted in full

Mum and baby working at home

A new further education funding and accountability system

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to comment on the government’s proposals to develop a new further education funding and accountability system. However, the country is already facing a skills crisis and there is a need for urgent action on a much greater scale than the policy framework set out in this consultation and the preceding consultation on the National Skills Fund. The TUC has set out detailed critiques of the skills white paper in our regular skills policy bulletins and our response to the National Skills Fund consultation

Reforming the Framework for Better Regulation

The government's proposal to take a deregulatory approach to future legislation is extremely concerning. Instead of deregulating labour market regulation and threatening EU-derived employment protections, the government should focus on improving workers’ rights. This should include an employment bill that ends exploitative employment practices such as the use of zero-hours contracts and fire-and-rehire.

National Skills Fund

The country is already facing a national skills crisis and there is a need for urgent action on a much greater scale than the policy framework set out in the skills white paper and this consultation. Government should bring employer bodies and trade unions together to agree strategies to tackle labour and skills shortages, including getting industries and sectors to prioritise delivering decent terms and conditions, direct employment and a proper pay rise.

Fixing Leicester's garment trade - one year on

When the latest scandal surrounding Leicester’s garment industry hit the headlines again in 2020 the TUC in the Midlands knew it was time for us to step up to the plate. Scandal has dogged the industry for too long. And it’s working people who suffer as a result. But we don’t want anger. We don’t want grand standing. We want solutions.

Safeguarding the UK’s manufacturing jobs with climate action: carbon leakage and job

TUC calls on the UK government and companies to work together to future-proof jobs at risk of offshoring

Steel factory in the background

TUC calls for UK trade preferences to promote workers' rights

TUC submission on UK-India trade talks

The TUC and Indian unions call on our governments to meaningfully involve trade unions, as well as relevant civil society groups, in the negotiation of any trade agreement to ensure trade talks between the UK and India support respect for workers' rights and address these concerns.

General Council Report 2021

This report contains details of the work undertaken by the General Council during the past year, 2020-2021.

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A new deal for Social Care: A new deal for the workforce

TUC’s plan for a new sectoral minimum wage and a new workforce strategy would be an important first step in the government’s promise to fix social care. By reforming how we tax the wealthy and guaranteeing care workers are paid a fair day’s wage, we can ensure high quality care for those who need it and high quality work for those who provide care.

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TUC Equality Audit 2020-2021

The 2020 TUC Equality Audit suggests that, in the two years before the outbreak of Covid-19, there were signs that the climate for equality bargaining had improved slightly compared with the position four years earlier.

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Public Service Pensions: Consultation on the discount rate methodology

Our strong recommendation is that to avoid a continuation of these challenges, we should return to the use of a discount rate methodology based on the Social Time Preference Rate. As well as being justified on a practical basis, there are strong points of principle which underpin our recommendation including the need for consistency in assessing public spending and the need to maintain intergenerational fairness.

Public service pensions: cost control mechanism consultation

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation on proposed changes to the cost control mechanism for public sector pensions

Afghanistan - TUC letter to Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary

Letter urging government to do everything they can to ensure that those fleeing persecution in Afghanistan are able to claim asylum in the UK. The government must support efforts for peace and increase the level of UK development assistance provided to independent civil society organisations and trade unions in the region.

Beyond furlough: why the UK needs a permanent short-time work scheme

This report makes the case that the UK should build on the success of the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) and Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) by putting in place a permanent furlough scheme to deal with future periods of economic turbulence.

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Umbrella companies: Why agencies and employers should be banned from using them

The use of umbrella companies appears to have nothing to do with supporting workers, and more to do with parts of the labour supply chain taking an additional cut out of payroll funds. Employment agencies should be required to pay and employ the staff they place with end clients. For these reasons the TUC believe that a complete ban on the use of umbrella companies is the only way to prevent the exploitation that workers face.

Equality, respect and safety for LGBT workers

Open letter signed by general secretaries representing over five million union members criticises the government for its “inaction” on tackling discrimination and harassment faced by LGBT people.

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Sexual harassment of disabled women in the workplace

This report adds to the growing body of evidence that workplace cultures need to change. The sexual harassment that disabled women experienced had a devastating impact on both their health, and careers.

Solidarity with the PFA

There is no more important priority for our trade union movement today than to do whatever it takes to stand up against racism and to secure racial justice at work. Wherever and whenever racism exists, wherever the conditions exist which enable racism to flourish, we must be ready to act and to call it out. But we need to do more than speak out – we must also make a difference.

Letter

TUC response to Department of Work and Pensions consultation on in-work progression

Our consultation response focuses on embedding lifelong learning; the specific barriers to progression in the areas of the retail industry; and looking at groups of people at most risk of low pay and how to tackle these inequalities.

Summer holiday childcare: no let up for working mums

The summer holidays this year will be tougher than previous years. For many mums they are constantly trying to manage schooling, wraparound care, informal childcare support, annual leave, formal childcare and holiday provision and a careful arrangement of hours between adults in the household. The government must help working families balance paid work and childcare, by reforming the system of parental leave and flexible working rights.

Photo: Family

Restoring trust in audit and corporate governance - TUC response

Our submission focuses on a proposal to change the word ‘employee’ to ‘workforce’ throughout the Companies Act, so that its requirements cover the whole workforce, rather than only directly-employed employees as at present; reform of directors’ duties to remove shareholder primacy and require directors to promote the long-term success of the company as their primary aim; reform of board composition to require that worker directors comprise one third of the board at companies with over 250 workers; and sets out the TUC’s response to a number of the consultation questions.

Flexi-job apprenticeships

TUC response to the government consultation. The proposed flexi-job apprenticeship model is very likely to promote even more precarious job patterns. The government should prioritise tackling the root causes of insecure employment and incentivise employers to recruit apprentices for the long-term rather than promoting even more short-termism.

Jobs and recovery monitor - Insecure work

This research shows there are 3.6 million insecure workers in this country and insecure work is pushing risk onto workers. It is vital that the government urgently bring forward an employment bill and take steps to stamp out insecure work as the country begins its recovery.

TUC response to the government on UK-Canada trade negotiations

TUC response to the government on UK-Mexico trade negotiations

Negotiating the Future of Work: Automation and New Technology

This report highlights the importance of supporting workers to access new skills and embed good practice by negotiating with employers. Reps can use this report to start these conversations with your employers and colleagues to realise the ambition of a just transition in Wales and address the big changes facing workers today.

Jobs and recovery monitor - Industry

TUC analysis reveals that employment in hard-hit sectors is struggling to recover from the pandemic.

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Workers’ experiences of long Covid

Our findings show 3 in 10 with long Covid have experienced symptoms lasting longer than a year – which means they should be protected at work. Over half of respondents tell the TUC they have experienced some form of discrimination or disadvantage due to their condition.

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The future of flexible work

New polling in this report reveals an emerging class divide as some workers opt to keep working from home whereas those who can’t work from home have little access to any forms of flexible working. It reveals a significant divide in access to homeworking between higher-paid and working-class occupations. The polling finds strong demand for other forms of flexible working from all groups of workers, such as control over working hours.

BME workers on zero-hours contracts

This joint report by the TUC and ROTA shows that disproportionate numbers of Black and minority ethnic (BME) workers are on zero-hours contracts. BME women are particularly likely to be on zero-hours contracts.

As the G7 Leaders meet on 11-13 June, prospects for global recovery after the pandemic are still fragile.

Disabled workers’ experiences during the pandemic

Not only have disabled people been disproportionately affected in terms of loss of life, with six in 10 Covid-19 related deaths being disabled people, but pre-existing workplace barriers have been accentuated by the pandemic. We conducted this research to better understand how pre-existing workplace barriers have been affected by the pandemic and the impact it has had on disabled workers.

Homeworking

Ranking G7 Green Recovery Plans and Jobs

This report shows how the UK is lagging behind its G7 peers, and the potential to do much more to expand green jobs and accelerate climate action. The TUC’s ranking of all G7 countries’ green recovery and jobs investments shows that the UK comes sixth.

Solar factory

RIDDOR, Covid and under-reporting

This report outlines the TUC’s concerns regarding under-reporting of Covid-19 work-related incidents using RIDDOR, and what can be done to ensure official data better reflects the reality of occupational exposure and fatalities.

TUC action plan to reform labour market enforcement

This report highlights how the enforcement system can generate additional funding, so some of the costs for the labour market enforcement system are borne by the employers who breach basic workplace standards.

TUC opposes Home Office plan to prevent asylum seekers claiming protection

The TUC General Secretary has written to the Home Secretary expressing concerns about the Home Office's 'New Plan for Immigration' as they would breach international human rights law, would significantly increase the risk of asylum seekers facing exploitation, poverty and detention, and would facilitate a race to the bottom on pay and conditions.

Jobs and Recovery Monitor - Gender

Our analysis shows that while headline figures for women may look more stable, in reality women have seen a much higher level of redundancy than in previous crises and are working in sectors that are particularly exposed to the economic impact of the pandemic, again something that goes against previous experience.

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Racial inequalities in health and social care workplaces

Outsourcing and casualisation allows end employers to outsource their employment responsibilities, leaving workers with minimal employment rights and security and undermining existing rights and terms and conditions. Such workers cannot challenge the end employer for any employment rights abuses. This restricts outsourced Black and ethnic minority (BME) workers and their unions’ ability to negotiate and bargain collectively, and challenge discrimination and unsafe working conditions where they occur. This unsustainable and highly exploitative model of public service delivery must end.

Open letter to the Prime Minister to reject ‘insulting’ report and act on race equality at work

Unions tell PM: actions that end workplace exploitation for all working-class people will help end systemic racism through unity rather than division

Covid-19 and Insecure Work

This report explores how the nature of insecure work has exacerbated the scale and severity of the pandemic and identifies the key reforms that are needed to eradicate insecure work and build back better after the pandemic.

Commuters

A safe return to the workplace

This report sets out the steps ministers and employers should take to keep people safe at work and to prevent another spike in workplace infections.

Union learning reps are the key

An independent report, looking at learners' experiences of Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF) over the past year has highlighted the key role that ULRs play in the workplace, as well as highlighting the impact union led learning has had on delivering several key adult education priorities for Wales.

Transforming public procurement

We welcome this consultation on proposed changes to procurement regulation. We have long argued for a more strategic and intelligent approach to public procurement that levers the purchasing power of the public sector in support of employment standards, jobs, skills and economic development.

Union Health and Safety Rep Survey - 2020/21

The TUC’s 2020/21 survey of more than 2100 workplace safety representatives reveals that many employers are failing to follow Covid-secure rules and keep workers safe.

Research into Covid-19 workplace safety outcomes in the food and drinks sector

This report responds to the TUC’s calls for a strengthened health and safety agenda, improved safety guidance and tougher regulatory activity in the light of Covid-19.

Jobs and recovery monitor - update on young workers

It’s vital that action is taken to address a youth unemployment crisis. As young workers are more likely to be furloughed, it’s important that the government does not end the scheme prematurely. We also need a revamp of the disappointing Kickstart scheme, investment in job creation, and a strong safety net for those who do lose jobs.

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Work and the AI Revolution

The TUC believes we are now at a crucial moment in the AI-driven technological workplace revolution. These reports are part of the TUC project on AI and the employment relationship.

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Dignity at work and the AI revolution

The TUC believes we are now at a crucial moment in the AI-driven technological workplace revolution. In this manifesto, we highlight the values we should all adopt to make sure that technology at work is for the benefit of everyone, and to reassert the importance of human agency in the face of technological control. Work is a huge part of all our lives. It matters to all of us that we get this technological revolution right.

Artificial intelligence

Trade union activism on violence against women in Brazil

This project aims to initiate action on violence against women, as a trade union issue, amongst Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) affiliates in Brazil and the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Extending working lives - How to support older workers

We need an immediate and ambitious programme to help older workers who lose their job get back into employment. In the longer term, a broad set of measures will be needed to extend working lives without further widening inequalities. This must include...

Capacity building of East African trade unions

Empowering women and promoting gender equality  in the workplace  in Iraq  

Research into human and trade union rights violations in eSwatini  

Bangladesh: Women Garment Workers’ Leadership Development Project

Sierra Leone – Rebuilding the capacity of the trade union movement in the post-civil war era

Building trade union capacity to combat HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

Progression of disability and equality rights in East Africa

TUC Aid supported the development of various trade union disability policies, constitutional change, and workplace action in East African countries, including Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

Technology Managing People – The legal implications

AI systems present opportunities for all, but these new technologies must be deployed in the right way. This report sets out the legal redress available to workers when AI decision-making goes wrong, explores gaps in the law and guidance (illustrated by case studies), and goes on to make recommendations for reform.

Extending the exclusivity clause ban

We believe that a far better approach would be to consider the purpose and necessity of an exclusivity clause. This would permit exclusivity clauses justified by legitimate reasons such as the protection of business secrets or avoidance of conflicts of interest. But we must also be clear that we believe action on exclusivity clauses alone would be utterly inadequate in assisting low-paid and insecure workers.

Labour unions, TUAC and ITUC priorities for the G7

The UK holds the G7 Presidency for this year (2021) and Labour unions, led by the TUC along with TUAC and the ITUC have today launched the L7 priorities for this year’s G7 summit.

Briefing on TUC recommendations - Domestic Advisory Group under the EU-UK TCA

The TUC recommends the establishment of a UK economic and social council. Such a body would include representatives of employers' organisations, trade unions and wider civil society in equal number, as is the case in many other countries, including EU member states. The TUC calls on the UK government to ensure the DAG established for the TCA, as well as DAGs established for other UK trade deals, are effective in monitoring commitments to workers’ rights.

Jobs and Recovery Monitor - Regions

In our latest jobs and recovery monitor we look at headline labour market data covering September to November 2020, when new national restrictions had been introduced and furlough extended. We also look at the emerging picture across the regions and nations of the UK.

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Technology managing people - the legal implications

AI law consultancy present a report to the TUC on the legal implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in the post-pandemic workplace. To be read in conjunction with the TUC’s own paper published in the Autumn of 2020 called “Technology managing people: The Worker Experience” (the “Worker Experience Report”), which provides an invaluable and unique insight into the way in which AI is already being used and perceived in the workplace.

Sick pay that works

The TUC believes that, while inadequate on its own, rapid introduction of such a scheme could help tackle coronavirus and save many workers from hardship. However, the government has not taken this idea forward as yet.

A Workers’ Budget: TUC Submission for HM Treasury March 2021 Budget

We urge the Chancellor to remain resolute in his pledge to do ‘whatever it takes’. In the Budget the Treasury should pledge to support workers, families and businesses for as long as the pandemic continues and economic activity is disrupted.

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The impact of the pandemic on household finances

The pandemic is having a significant impact on people’s household finances. Some will be saving money, due to no longer having to commute or due to discretionary spending being constrained while holidays, meals out and pub visits aren’t possible.

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Jobs and Recovery Monitor - BME workers

In this report we look at how the pandemic is impacting employment, unemployment and redundancies. There are clear signs in the latest labour market data of the negative impact - a record rise in unemployment and a record number of redundancies.

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Working mums: Paying the price

The TUC is calling for a temporary legal right to access the furlough scheme for parents and those with caring responsibilities.

Homeworking mother

The Life of Mary Macarthur - TUC Library exhibition

This digital exhibition explores the historical significance of trade union leader Mary Macarthur and the work of the National Federation of Women Workers.

Mary Macarthur

The TUC’s ten-point plan to protect jobs, rights and public services after Brexit

This report outlines the TUC’s initial assessment of the deal, and the action we believe that the UK Government will now need to take to ensure the country can weather its consequences. This includes action at domestic level or through additional dialogue with the EU to build on the foundations of the agreement.

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Impact of Covid-19 and Brexit for the UK economy

This brief sets out key themes from some of the recent analysis to emerge on both the impact the changing nature of the UK’s trading relationship with the EU and the rest of the world from January 1st 2021 and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Freelancers and the cultural recovery out of Covid-19 in the West Midlands

The worsening situation for workers in Turkey

The TUC and affiliates want to see an immediate end to infringements on democratic norms and human rights, an end to the mistreatment of the Kurdish community, the release of all political prisoners, and the release of Abdullah Öcalan as a step towards peace talks, and engagement in a peace process.

The rise of the far right: Brazil

Bolsonaro and his would-be ‘super-minister’ of the economy Paolo Guedes campaigned on the promise of ultra-liberal economic policies, pledging to shrink the public sector, cut taxes, privatise state assets and flexibilise labour markets.

The rise of the far right- building a trade union response

This report describes practical, effective strategies for tackling the far right in our workplaces and communities. It highlights how we should use our proud tradition of internationalism to out-organise the far right globally.

Protests

Technology managing people

This report is intended to raise awareness of the experience of workers and trade unions when artificial intelligence (AI) is used by employers to carry out people-management functions, and to identify objectives to ensure that the interests of workers are not overlooked in the use of AI.

Technology managing people - The worker experience

This report is intended to raise awareness of the experience of workers and trade unions when artificial intelligence (AI) is used by employers to carry out people-management functions, and to identify objectives to ensure that the interests of workers are not overlooked in the use of AI.

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Justice for Palestine

Palestine is one of the worst countries in the world to be a worker. This report sets out TUC policy and the evidence base in support of Palestinian workers’ rights.

The blockade has decimated the Gazan fishing industry. Photo: ILO

The Future of the Union Learning Fund

A new independent report by University of Exeter finds that for every £1 spent on union-supported learning and training, the economy gets £12.87 back.

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Jobs and Recovery Monitor - Young Workers

The analysis highlight the disproportionate impact the Covid-19 economic crisis is having on young people’s jobs and pay. And that without urgent investment in creating new good jobs, a generation will be scarred by mass unemployment.

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Disability pay and employment gaps 2020

This analysis report shows that disabled people continue to face double discrimination. Not only are they less likely to have a paid job but when they do, disabled people earn substantially less than their non-disabled peers.

Getting every adult to level 3

The government has recently announced that all adults will have the opportunity to get their first level 3 qualification without paying course charges, through the National Skills Fund. Qualifications of this kind include A levels or the vocational equivalent, such as a BTEC level 3 or an advanced apprenticeship. The TUC supports this priority.

Universal Credit and the impact of the five week wait for payment

The TUC argue the five week wait for the first payment of universal credit must be replaced immediately with non- repayable grants. This change must sit alongside a wider set of reforms to the social security system to provide decent support for all who need it.

BME women and work

Black and minority ethnic (BME) women are around twice as likely as white workers to be employed in insecure jobs, according to a TUC analysis.

Levelling up the UK: the role of state aid

This paper sets out to look at what state aid might look like beyond 2020, how it might differ from current practice and what we think a progressive and effective state aid strategy should look like. The TUC has set out five principles which should guide the development of the UK’s post Brexit state aid regime.

Jobs and Recovery Monitor - Issue 1

As fears about jobs and the economy grow, this is the first of a series of monthly reports aimed at informing working people about key statistics and policy concerns.

Annex: Labour Market Stats Guide

Today there is a concern that official statistics are not fully capturing a deterioration in the quality of work that has been a feature of the recent increase in employment. But above all we want to know how well labour market outcomes meet our goal for all who want work to have good quality and well paid employment.

Challenging Amazon Report

We urge Amazon to recognise and engage with unions as the best way to ensure workers’ rights are protected. But if Amazon will not do better for its workers, then unions and governments at all levels must work together to make sure that they do.

Amazon package being delivered to customer

Support in the workplace for victims of domestic abuse

Preventing and tackling domestic abuse is a key part of an employers’ duty of care towards their employees and their legal responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act to ensure a safe working environment. We welcome the government’s recognition that employers should and could do more to support workers experiencing, or at risk of, domestic abuse and welcome the opportunity to respond to this call for evidence.

General Council Report 2020

This report contains details of the work undertaken by the General Council during the past year, 2019-2020.

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Key workers report

The TUC estimates that 6 million key workers would stand to benefit from public sector pay increases and planned minimum wage increases. Both these levers are directly within the government’s control. But there are signs that pay increases may not materialise.

A plan for public service jobs to help prevent mass unemployment

The TUC set out a plan in June for how we could create 1.24 million jobs in the next two years in the green industries of the future. But government investment needs to go beyond that: we need a plan for direct public sector job creation.

Sick pay and debt

Many workers are already struggling with household finances due to the pandemic. A household debt crisis has been looming for the past few years, and without significant intervention, it could hit when a range of temporary support measures end later in the year. This note sets out new findings on sick pay and debt from a largescale survey carried out by BritainThinks.

Fixing social care

This report sets out why the UK does not have a high-quality social care system, and how to improve it for those who use it, and those who work in it. That means long-term, sustainable funding of services that provides value for money to the public purse while meeting the needs of individuals and communities.

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A new jobs protection and upskilling plan

TUC's blueprint for saving jobs and upskilling workers affected by the crisis. This plan outlines a new short-time working scheme designed to prevent mass unemployment and to help firms bounce back after the crisis, and proposals to help workers whose jobs are at risk develop the skills they need for the future.

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Voice and place: how to plan fair and successful paths to net zero emissions

We have an opportunity to build back better – and build back greener after the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. We must seize that opportunity to deliver the just transition working people want and need.

Workers installing wind turbines

Job Creation in Wales from Infrastructure Investment

Almost 60,000 jobs could be created in Wales in the next two years through government investment in key infrastructure projects. This research – carried out for the Wales TUC by Transition Economics – shows that fast-tracking spending on projects such as social housing, public transport, and decarbonisation could make a significant contribution to the economic recovery.

The forthcoming Employment Bill provides a vital opportunity to put in place measures to ensure that decent work becomes widespread and that practices like zero hours contracts are left in the past.

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TUC response to the joint HM Treasury and UK Statistics Authority Consultation on the reform to retail prices index methodology

TUC officials have been involved since the beginning of the public debate around inflation, and once more take this opportunity to make our views known. TUC response to the joint HM Treasury and UK Statistics Authority Consultation on the reform to retail prices index methodology.

BEIS Carer’s leave consultation response

The TUC rejects the proposal that carers leave should be unpaid. Unpaid care is still not given the recognition it deserves from either government or employers. In this submission we look at the issues facing carers and evidence from trade unions, before responding to the specific consultation questions.

Dying on the job - Racism and risk at work

Pre-Covid-19 polling from ICM shows that racism was rife in the workplace before the pandemic. An additional TUC self-report survey adds to concerns that BME workers are now being put at increased risk during the pandemic. TUC demands government takes decisive action to tackle racism now.

BME medic

TUC submission to government Freeports consultation

A better recovery for the South East

As well as calling on the chancellor to provide support for the South East as part of a national recovery plan, this report sets out a recovery plan for the region that local authorities and LEPs in alliance with regional partners can start putting into action right away.

A better recovery for the South West

As well as calling on the chancellor to provide support for the South West as part of a national recovery plan, this report sets out a South West regional recovery plan that the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), South West Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), and local authority leaders in collaboration with trade unions, businesses and civic society, can start putting into action right away.

A better recovery for London

As well as calling on the chancellor to provide support for London as part of a national recovery plan, this report sets out concepts and themes for a recovery plan for London that the Mayor of London, London boroughs and the Local Economic Action Partnership (LEAP) can start putting into action right away.

A better recovery for the North East and Cumbria

As well as calling on the chancellor to provide support for the region as part of a national recovery plan, this report sets out a recovery plan for the region that the North of Tyne Combined Authority, Tees Valley Combined Authority, North East Combined Authority, the Cumbria Combined Authority and the regions LEPs can start putting into action right away.

A better recovery for the North West

As well as calling on the chancellor to provide support for the North West as part of a national recovery plan, this report sets out a recovery plan for the North West that our combined authorities, local councils and LEPs can start putting into action right away.

A better recovery for the West Midlands

As well as calling on the chancellor to provide support for the West Midlands as part of a national recovery plan, this report sets out a recovery plan for the region that the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and LEPs can start putting into action right away.

A better recovery for the East of England

As well as calling on the chancellor to provide support for the East of England as part of a national recovery plan, this report sets out a recovery plan for the region that the combined authority, local authorities and the LEPs can start putting into action right away.

A better recovery for Yorkshire

A plan to get Yorkshire growing out of the crisis – and stop mass unemployment.

A better recovery for the East Midlands

As well as calling on the chancellor to provide support for the East Midlands as part of a national recovery plan, this report sets out a recovery plan for the East Midlands that local leaders can start putting into action right away.

This report focuses on what the government can do to reduce the financial impact to all workers who cannot work at home, but who have to stay at home, to ensure they do not lose their jobs because health, caring or wider challenges prevent them from attending work and undertaking their usual roles.

Rebuilding after recession: a plan for jobs

Research carried out for the TUC reveals that fast tracking spending on projects such as broadband, green technology, transport and housing could deliver a 1.24 million jobs boost by 2022. The analysis shows that projects which could create jobs include...

TUC response to the inquiry on Universal Credit and the wait for the first payment

The introduction of Universal Credit is one of the most significant social security reforms in recent decades. The TUC believes that Universal Credit based on its current design, and on the experience of the roll out so far, is not fit for purpose. Such is the concern of trade unionists that our democratically agreed policy position is for Universal Credit to be stopped and scrapped altogether.

Young workers are most at risk from job losses due to the coronavirus crisis

TUC analysis shows that young workers (aged 25 and under) face the highest risk of unemployment due to the coronavirus crisis. The TUC is calling for a job guarantee scheme to stop those without work becoming long-term unemployed, with early access to the scheme for young workers.

Young workers

International justice day for cleaners and security guards

This international justice day, the TUC are calling for fair pay and decent contracts for all cleaners and security guards, safe working and PPE, Insourcing and responsible procurement to restore terms and conditions, and recognition, dignity and respect for cleaners and security guards as key workers.

Cleaner

Pregnant and precarious: new and expectant mums’ experiences of work during Covid-19

1 in 4 pregnant women have faced discrimination at work during the coronavirus outbreak, according to new TUC survey. The government must act now to ensure that women do not continue to face disproportionate impacts from the coronavirus crisis and to prevent decades of incremental progress on gender equality being lost.

Pregnant worker

Forced out: The cost of getting childcare wrong

The government cannot stand by while mums are forced out of work. Without immediate action to support women to stay in work we risk losing decades of progress on women’s labour market participation. The recommendations in this report are emergency measures to prevent widespread and unnecessary job loss among working parents.

A young family

Testing & tracing for Covid-19

Report on the workplace implications of testing and tracing

A Better Recovery

This report sets out how the UK can recover from the coronavirus economic crisis, stop the despair of mass unemployment and set working families on a path to prosperity.

open shop

TUC response to inquiry on Coronavirus (Covid-19) and the impact on people with protected characteristics

The TUC welcomes the Committee’s timely inquiry into the impact of COVID 19 and the response to it on people with protected characteristics and the recognition that both immediate and longer term action is necessary to ensure that existing inequalities are not amplified or entrenched.

A new plan for jobs - Why we need a new jobs guarantee

A job guarantee scheme is a vital part of a new plan for jobs. But it must sit alongside decent social security. This report sets out the case for a new jobs guarantee.

TUC proposals on ensuring a safe return to work

TUC’s view of the immediate action that needs to be taken to ensure safe working and secure public support for a widespread return to work. It provides a more detailed overview of the processes required to ensure that comprehensive risk assessments and safe working practices are put in place over the period ahead.

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A £10 minimum wage would benefit millions of key workers

In this brief research note, we show that a rise in the minimum wage to £10 per hour would mean a pay increase for up to 3.7 million key workers.

Preparing for the return to work outside the home: a trade union approach

This report sets out what we believe the government must do now to ensure a safe transition from lockdown, looking at how to safely return to work outside the home, the enforcement measures needed to protect workers, and how best to protect workers’ livelihoods.

open shop

TUC briefing on US and EU negotiations

Fixing the safety net: Next steps in the economic response to coronavirus

This report sets out what the government must now do to protect jobs, provide proper sick pay for all and protect the livelihoods of those who lose their jobs.

Family

Protecting workers’ safety in the coronavirus pandemic

Keeping the economy running must be balanced with workers’ welfare and wider public health objectives. We therefore call on the government to provide further direction to employers on what they need to do to ensure safe working, and to set out the enforcement action that they will take against those that refuse. The TUC sets out five key asks for the government.

Washing hands

Fixing the safety net: What next on supporting working people’s incomes?

This report sets out what government must do next to protect family incomes Government must now - guarantee incomes for self-employed people, introduce paid parental leave for parents, fix the sick pay system.

family

Protecting workers’ jobs and livelihoods

TUC's economic response to coronavirus. It sets out what the TUC believes must happen next to ensure that we enable people to follow vital public health advice, protect jobs and livelihoods, and enable our economy to survive this unprecedented disruption.

Working from home

Making this a decade of renewal

TUC Budget submission to the Treasury, calling on the Chancellor to make the 2020s a decade of renewal – with green infrastructure, rebuilding of public services, and support for better quality jobs

TUC concerns about government 'global tariffs' plans

Sick pay for all

This report sets out the specific steps that employers and government should be taking to deal with the current outbreak of Coronavirus.

coronavirus

West Country Workers | Issue 9 2020

Read the latest union stories, campaigns and articles from the South West.

West country workers publication | Issue 9 2020

The missing half million

How unions can transform themselves to be a movement of young workers. This report is intended to help the union movement grapple with the hard questions about how we transform ourselves to help meet the needs of a group of workers who far too often are unlikely to be in union membership.

Young people

Good Work Plan: Proposals to better support families

TUC welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this consultation on reforming the parental rights system and agree that reform is necessary. We recommend that the current system of maternity, paternity and shared parental leave is replaced by a simpler, more equal system that would provide stronger rights for each parent and better achieve the objectives of a progressive parental leave system.

Letter of thanks from former Brazilian President Lula da Silva

A letter of thanks from former Brazilian President Lula da Silva for the support he has received from the British labour movement.

Solidarity for Lula

How the shareholder-first business model is contributing to inequality

The UK’s largest companies could play an important role in reducing poverty and inequality, but the current business model is designed to maximise profit for shareholders. The TUC and The High Pay Centre are calling on our political leaders to take immediate steps to fix the broken economic model that puts shareholders first.

Confidentiality clauses

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the BEIS inquiry into confidentiality clauses and measures to prevent their misuse in situations of workplace harassment or discrimination.

‘Health is Everyone’s Business’

TUC submission to the Department of Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care consultation.

TUC submission to Migration Advisory Committee on points based system and salary thresholds

TUC submission on UK-Japan trade to Department of International Trade

Disability employment and pay gaps 2019

This report shows that disabled people face double discrimination at work.

team talk

West Country Workers | Issue 8 2019

From coastal communities to green reps and struggling musicians, read the latest news and stories from the south west.

WCW front cover

Lessons from a decade of failed austerity

This report shows how the cuts imposed after the last recession, both in the UK and in much of the developed world, harmed economic growth, with a heavy impact on workers’ pay. Overall, pay growth has halved across OECD countries in the decade since the GFC. In real terms, annual pay growth has been below one per cent a year for two thirds of countries.

Transparency: Flexible working and family related leave and pay policies

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to respond to the BEIS consultation on improving the transparency of employers’ flexible working and parental leave and pay policies.

Sexual harassment in the workplace - TUC response to GEO technical consultation

The TUC welcomes the opportunity to respond to the GEO consultation on proposals to tackle workplace sexual harassment, strengthening protection for all workers and providing clarity for employers.

Consequences of ‘no deal’

This report provides a summary of key findings from reviewing the literature on no deal, followed by a more detailed overview of the findings.

Councils in crisis

This paper sets out the extent of cuts to local government finance over the last decade, as well as projecting forwards five years to show that they are expected to continue in effect.

Building working class power

The TUC was founded to advance the “general interests of the working classes”, and that remains our core mission today. We need stronger rights for workers to negotiate better pay and conditions, a plan to restore our public services, and new laws to end class discrimination.

A stronger voice for workers

This report sets out why we need to give workers greater rights to collective bargaining and the policies we need to make this happen. Collective bargaining is a public good that promotes higher pay, better training, safer and more flexible workplaces and greater equality. It’s what Working Britain deserves. The TUC is committed to making it happen.

A new deal: TUC statement on the spending review

The TUC’s Spending Round submission calls on the government to safeguard people’s jobs, livelihoods and the economy by ruling out a no-deal Brexit. The submission warns the Chancellor that he would not be able to prevent a no-deal Brexit doing further harm to public services already damaged by severe cuts.

Let's talk about people

Behind the headlines: a useful guide on people, population and migration in the South West.

People in the south west

General Council Report 2019

This report contains details of the work undertaken by the General Council during the past year, 2018-2019.

The TUC report highlights that apprentices get less financial help with travel than those who remain at school. It urges the government to implement a national travel discount for all apprentices and sets out ideas for how it should work.

Pay in working class jobs

Millions of people in working class jobs have seen their pay flatline over the last decade. That's why we need a new deal for workers.

New analysis by the TUC shows that at least 3.7 million workers in the UK, around one in nine of the workforce, are in insecure work. Insecure work is not restricted to any particular corner of the country. It is widespread.

Zimbabwe: Stop death threats to ZCTU leadership!

TUC General Secretary, Frances O'Grady writes with urgency, a letter to the Ambassador of Zimbabwe in London, demanding the Zimbabwean government publicly denounces immediately the death threats and bullets sent last week to the leadership of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).

How industrial change can be managed to deliver better jobs

This report looks at successful models for industrial transformation at local level. It provides partners such as local government, local enterprise partnerships, business and trade unions with evidence and ideas to help make their local industrial strategies successful.

A just transition to a greener, fairer economy

This just transition statement sets out a number of challenging, ambitious policies that will support those workers. We call on the government to implement these recommendations in both the interests of the workers of this country and the planet on which we all live.

A Manifesto for the creative and cultural industries

A manifesto for the arts sector from the creative trade unions and TUC South West. The alliance of unions calls for increased funding and proper advocacy for the creative and cultural industries. Alongside the manifesto, the report explains how the arts bring huge benefits to people living in and visiting the South West, and details examples where proper investment and support has boosted the regional economy and labour market, as well as revived towns and cities.

TUC South West Manifesto for culture

TUC submission to the Work and Pensions Committee inquiry on Universal Credit: In-work Progression

In our response to this consultation, we focus on the importance of investment in training and development as the TUC believes in-work progression is about genuine development and not wielding the stick of conditionality and sanctions. Unions need to be a key stakeholder in designing in-work progression. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with the committee.

CBI, FSB, TUC, Which? & Fair Trade Foundation joint statement on UK trade policy

Joint statement setting out principles to create an inclusive trade policy for the UK that workers, businesses and communities will benefit from.

Sexual harassment of LGBT people in the workplace

The first UK major survey of LGBT sexual harassment at work, this report reveals nearly 7 in 10 (68%) lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people have been sexually harassed in the workplace.

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Building solidarity, stopping undercutting

We need a different approach to immigration that ensures that nobody’s rights at work are undermined and everyone has access to decent public services and skills training.

Improving line management

Having a good manager is crucial to how we get on at work. This report examines the results and makes recommendations on how employers and the government can improve the relationship between line managers and workers.

TUC briefing on the Immigration and Social Security Coordination Bill

The TUC believes it is unacceptable for this bill to place over 1 million UK citizens in the EU and over 3.5 million EU citizens in the UK at risk over their future rights and entitlements by failing to provide any detail about what the future UK immigration or social security system will be post-Brexit.

TUC response to the consultation on extending redundancy protection for women and new parents

TUC's response to the government’s consultation on extending redundancy protection for women and new parents.

TUC South West Annual Report 2019

The annual report from the Trades Union Congress in the South West highlights the ongoing work unions are doing to secure better pay, rights and a voice for working people in the region.

Front cover_annual report 2019

TUC and CBI call on Prime Minister to urgently change Brexit approach

Ahead of today’s (Thursday) European Summit TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady and CBI Director General Carolyn Fairbairn have written a joint-letter to the Prime Minister calling on her to urgently change approach on Brexit.

Frances O'Grady

Action to protect the economy and public services

TUC statement ahead of HM Treasury Spring Statement 2019. The Chancellor should use the Spring Statement to deliver increased spending of £25 billion.

Low pay in the hotel and accommodation sector

Hotels have failed to share the profits of their booming businesses with their workforce. Despite the industry’s rapid recovery after the recession, median earnings barely rose in real terms between 2008 and 2017. Pay in the industry is so low that over half of employees in the industry earn below the real Living Wage. This report is the first of two reports looking at the hotel sector.

Reasonable adjustments disability passports

The TUC and the GMB have launched a new disability passport to help the nearly 1 million (946,010) disabled people who fall out of work or switch employers each year to get the support they need.

Universal Credit Update – Briefing for Unions

Has there been an overhaul or reset of Universal Credit? Despite some fanfare over the latest tweaks to the policy, the answer is no, it is business as usual with Universal Credit.

That gay cake – a quick digest

An explanation of what the Supreme Court's decision in the Ashers bakery case means for LGBT+ rights.

Cake

TUC London, East and South East Region Directory

TUC LESE Directory (PDF) contains contact details for key regional and national contacts.

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A Domesday Book for public service contracts – better data, better value for money

This paper proposes a central depository or office to collect data on public service contracts.

TUC Response to the Ethnicity Pay Reporting Consultation

For any new duty to report ethnicity pay information to have real impact it needs to be supported by mandatory action plans. Government needs to take action to implement this change without delay.

All Tomorrow's Jobs

The TUC believes that sustainable industry and green technology could be one of the key planks in delivering new manufacturing jobs. We also believe that productivity improvements from artificial intelligence, can be directed towards the creation of manufacturing and high-tech employment.

This deal will threaten UK workers’ rights

A letter from Frances O'Grady to every MP about Mrs May’s Brexit deal - this is a bad deal for working people: bad for jobs, and bad for rights. That is why trade unions can’t support it – and we don’t think you should either.

Not part of the job

Young workers’ experiences of third-party harassment: polling and survey findings

Young workers

TUC Summer Patrol for Young Workers 2019

In July 2018, the Norwegian LO in Møre and Romsdal region invited TUC Yorkshire & the Humber and activists from the GMB and BFAWU unions to observe and participate in their annual summer patrol exercise targeting young workers.

summer patrol norway

TUC response to MAC report on EEA migration

The TUC will continue to engage with the MAC and government to address concerns about the report and press for a migration policy that promotes equal treatment and rights for all workers, combined with significantly increased investment in skills training and public services.

WMCA Industrial Strategy Consultation

TUC working with trade unions in the EU and Africa calls for an end to Economic Partnership Agreements and fair trade with the Global South

The TUC helped develop a joint statement with trade unions in the EU and Africa flagging concerns with the trade deals known as Economic Partnership Agreements that the EU has been negotiating with regions in Africa and the UK is now replicating in its trade negotiations with African regions.

Your Health at Work

This 240-page soft back handbook is a valuable reference book, and a must-have for all trade unionists and covers the most common physical and mental health risks at work and how you can tackle them.

Your Health at Work

TUC writes to Iranian Ambassador to release teacher trade unionist Mohammad Habibi

Breaking point: the crisis in mental health funding

This report shows how years of real-terms spending cuts have left services unable to cope with growing demand. Beds, doctors and nurse numbers are falling while the number of patients accessing services continues to escalate. And this is exacerbated by cuts to local authority and school budgets that are decimating counselling and public health services that are crucial to addressing mental health and well-being in our communities, particularly for our children.

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The menopause in the workplace - Wales TUC Cymru

The Wales TUC has a positive relationship with workplace reps across Wales. Through consultations with these reps, we discovered that workplaces were not tackling certain issues in a way that helped workers. One of those issues was menopause. To tackle this issue Wales TUC has launched a joint campaign with the Women’s Equality Network Wales (WEN Wales).

Menopause in the workplace report

Submission to government consultation on Transpacific trade deal (CPTPP)

The TUC has submitted evidence to the Department of International Trade consultation on the Comprehensive and Progressive Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP), calling for the UK to drop plans to join the deal due to the serious threats it poses to workers' rights, public services and democracy through the dangerous ISDS clauses in the deal. The TUC calls for the government to instead prioritise getting a Brexit deal with the EU that protects rights and jobs.

TUC writes to Ambassador of Zimbabwe to denounce the latest oppression against the ZCTU

The TUC General Secretary, Ms Frances O’Grady, wrote to the Ambassador of Zimbabwe, HE Colonel Christian Katsande to denounce the actions of the government of Zimbabwe who employed immense and unjust methods to block the recent peaceful demonstration organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). Which orchestrated the subsequent arrest of ZCTU leaders.

Submission to government consultation on UK-US trade

The TUC has submitted evidence to the Department of International Trade consultation on UK-US trade, highlighting that the UK trade priority must be agreeing a Brexit deal with the EU that protects rights and jobs. The TUC joins with trade unions in the US in calling for trade deals involving our countries to guarantee legally enforceable workers' rights and protections for public services with no ISDS-style courts.

Submission to government consultation on UK-Australia trade

The TUC has submitted evidence to the Department of International Trade consultation on UK-Australia trade, highlighting that the UK trade priority must be agreeing a Brexit deal with the EU that protects rights and jobs. The TUC joins with trade unions in Australia in calling for trade deals involving our countries to guarantee legally enforceable workers' rights and protections for public services with no ISDS-style courts.

Submission to government consultation on UK-New Zealand trade

The TUC has submitted evidence to the Department of International Trade consultation on UK-New Zealand trade, highlighting that the UK trade priority must be agreeing a Brexit deal with the EU that protects rights and jobs. The TUC joins with trade unions in New Zealand in calling for trade deals involving our countries to guarantee legally enforceable workers' rights and protections for public services with no ISDS-style courts.

The 2019 TUC Summer Patrol for Young Workers

We are developing a Norway style summer patrol programme to reach more young workers in Yorkshire

Young British and Norwegian trade unionists on patrol in Norway

TUC Autumn budget statement 2018

The evidence that the economy is failing growing numbers of working people is overwhelming. Ten years after the financial crisis it’s time to move away from the politics of austerity that have made UK works poorer, weakened our public finances, and undermined our public services. It’s time for the government to act.

Focus on Health and Safety

TUC biennial survey of safety representatives 2018. It is designed to provide the TUC and its affiliated trade unions with valuable information to help shape safety campaigning and organisation in the period ahead.

TUC response to Social Security Advisory Committee's

Consultation on the Government’s proposals for managed migration of Universal Credit

TUC Equality Audit 2018

This audit looks at the practical steps trade unions are taking to ensure they reflect the diversity of the workforce. It provides examples of how unions are recruiting and supporting under-represented groups into membership and activism. It also looks at what unions are doing to give these groups a voice in their internal union structures.

A future that works for working people

This report brings together the latest evidence with a new large-scale poll on how technology could affect the future of work, conducted for the TUC in the summer of 2018.

worker machine

General Council Report to Congress 2018

This report this contains details of the work undertaken by the General Council during the past year.

General Council Report to Congress 2018

TUC writes to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang calling for release of trade unionists

I'll be watching you

Workplace surveillance is happening now, and it’s happening a lot. This report covers what workplace surveillance is, where it’s happening, how much it’s happening and who’s most affected by it, how workers feel about surveillance and what changes workers would like to see and what new policies are required to bring about that change.

office

Great Jobs are Union Jobs

Research report based upon ten in-depth case studies where collective bargaining has delivered positive outcomes for workers, particularly in terms of job quality, working hours and work-life balance.

Taylor Review: Enforcement of employment rights

The Taylor Review missed the opportunity to put forward recommendations that would counter the systemic problems in the UK labour market that cause large-scale non-compliance with employment rights. Wider action is needed to make sure working people have access to an effective system for enforcing employment rights.

Taylor Review: Employment Status

The TUC believes that there is a compelling case for the government to reform employment status rules so they reflect the reality of the workplace and raise the floor of rights for working people.

Taylor Review: Measures to improve transparency in the UK labour market

The government’s response to insecure work is to increase transparency in the workplace. But providing workers with more information will not, by itself, change the imbalance of power in the workplace.

Taylor Review: Agency workers recommendations

Our key views on the Taylor review recommendations and the issues raised for consultation can be summarised in this report.

TUC's response to Taylor Review consultations

Our responses to the Taylor Review consultations on agency workers, the enforcement of employment rights, employment status and measures to improve transparency in the UK labour market.

Ensuring smokefree workplaces

Stuck at the start

Young people are getting a raw deal at work. This report identifies five issues they face in getting ahead at work and makes recommendations to help.

Kitchen staff. Photo: Maskot

Protection from sexual harassment for women

You are protected from sexual harassment in the workplace by the Equality Act 2010. This booklet describes the offence, its impact and the rights you have to fight back if it happens.

Cover

A trade model that works for everyone

In today’s world, trade policy influences all areas of public policy, regardless of the form Brexit takes. It means we need the United Kingdom to establish a robust modern, inclusive and democratic governance model to oversee trade policy that has broad legitimacy in society and produces policy priorities that are also a balance of socioeconomic priorities.

Disability employment and pay gaps 2018

This report looks primarily at the disability pay gap, the difference between the average hourly pay of disabled and non-disabled people, using the Equality Act (EA) definition.

Disability and ‘hidden’ impairments in the workplace

The Wales TUC carried out this research to better understand attitudes towards and experiences of disability in the workplace in Wales, including those of workers with ‘hidden’ or non-visible impairments. The research gathered statistical evidence as well as the stories of disabled workers to give voice to those experiences.

Pathways to Progression

This briefing paper provides background on pay and progression in the UK, reports thefindings of a new analysis of progression in retail, and reviews approaches that are being taken to improve progression rates at the firm, sector and economy-wide levels.

Two young retail workers smiling at the camera

TUC London, East and South East Annual Report 2018

This annual report sets out the huge amount of work carried out over the last regional council year.

Brexit and disability rights

Brexit brings real risks to disabled workers' rights. Workers must not pay the price of Brexit. This briefing looks at how EU law has improved disabled workers rights in the UK, risks of Brexit and priorities for workers’ rights.

Brexit and LGBT+ rights

The creation of laws to protect LGBT+ people from discrimination in the workplace was driven by the EU. This briefing document looks at EU law and legal rights for LGBT+ workers, European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and LGBT+ rights, risks of Brexit and EU law and rights for all workers.

Safety representatives - going beyond the minimun

As part of the safetyreps@40 campaign and just before Workers Memorial Day, the TUC has published guidance on how to negotiate improved ways of union health and safety representatives being effective in preventing injury and illness.

Apprentice builders learning how to climb ladders in training facility

What lessons can we learn from Carillion – and what changes do we need to make?

In the wake of Carillion going into compulsory liquidation this report sets out the reforms needed to protect public services and improve quality. It looks at changes we need to make to corporate governance, workplace rights and the outsourcing of our public services.

Shifting the risk

There is large scale noncompliance with basic employment rights in the UK labour market. Existing enforcement mechanisms are failing many workers. This report looks at how they should be strengthened, particularly in a climate where organisations are proactively taking steps to transfer their employment law and tax obligations to other parties.

Time for Change - the end of austerity

If the UK is to equip itself to meet the challenges and opportunities of Brexit and a new role in the global economy, we need the government to invest in our economy, our communities and our public services.

TUC Statement on the HM Treasury Spring Statement 2018: Time for action

The Chancellor is running out of excuses not to end the planned cuts and to start investing in UK public services and infrastructure, and delivering pay rises across the board.

Ending the Undercutters' Charter

Too often agency workers get paid much less than directly employed staff for doing the exact same work.

Fixing the Retirement Lottery

This reports sets out the flaws in the current pensions system.The employment lottery that means that workers in some sectors have decent provision, while in many others large numbers are excluded from pensions or receive very little...

Sourcing public services - lessons learned from the collapse of Carillion

The TUC has identified the following set of policy recommendations to address specific issues related to the outsourcing of public services, with recommendations applicable to both national policy makers but also commissioning and procurement practitioners across the public sector.

TUC calls for NHS health charges for non-EEA citizens to be scrapped

TUC General Secretary writes to Korean Ambassador calling for the release of imprisoned KCTU leaders

On the opening day of the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, the TUC General Secretary wrote to the South Korean Ambassador to the UK calling on him to convey our demands for his government to free KCTU leaders Han Sang-gyun and Lee Young-joo and uphold their commitments to respecting workers' rights.

TUC Building Stronger Unions Prospectus

TUC support for effective union organising, campaigning and recruitment

TUC condemns threats made against senior Argentinian trade unionist Roberto Baradel

The TUC has condemned death threats to Roberto Baradel, the DGS of education union CTERA and the International Secretary of ITUC affiliate CTA.

Living on the Edge

The report comprises an analysis of representative survey data and a detailed investigation of insecure work in insecurity in three sectors: retail and logistics/delivery, and higher education. For each sector, workers from three regions of the economy (east of England, Yorkshire and London) were interviewed.

Work and suicide

Unions can have a role to play in helping prevent suicides and supporting those who may have suicidal thoughts.

Great Jobs with Guaranteed Hours

Our major poll found many zero-hours contract workers don’t benefit from important workplace rights, and they put up with insecure hours and pay.

Baristas at work. Photo Viewstock

Putting Brexit to the test

This report sets out the TUC's five tests against which we think any future Brexit arrangements need to be judged.

(image source: getty, credit: sturti)

TUC submission to the Autumn 2017 Budget

The Autumn Budget 2017 is an opportunity to invest in a better future, and an economy and society that works for everyone. Alongside the Brexit negotiations it is vital that this Budget takes action at a domestic level to start to address Britain’s long-standing economic challenges.

TUC response to trade white paper

The TUC has made a submission to the government Department for International Trade on the trade white paper released in October.

Accessible Apprenticeships

TUC submission to Migration Advisory Committee: EEA workers in the UK labour market

TUC submission to Migration Advisory Committee inquiry on EEA migrants in the UK labour market.

Sexual Harassment eNote

Dealing with cases of sexual harassment in the workplace is a key task for many union reps. Use this eNote to find out how you can help challenge attitudes to sexual harassment and get guidance on how to deal with it.

Great jobs in great places

This report explores what placed-based industrial strategies can do to make sure that no matter where people are born or where they work, everyone has the chance to get a great job.

Organising Precarious Workers: Trade Union and Co-operative Strategies

One emerging way to help vulnerable workers make their jobs better is through the formation of worker co-operatives. This report identifies and captures examples of best practice where unions and co-operatives are working together to challenge the erosion of political, social, economic and cultural rights.

How to deliver great jobs: towards a regional industrial strategy for Liverpool City Region

This report commissioned by the TUC to provide insight into how an industrial strategy can be developed and delivered to provide great jobs for the citizens of the Liverpool City Region.

How to create great jobs: towards a regional industrial strategy for Tees Valley

This report was commissioned by the TUC suggests that a Tees Valley Industrial Strategy should be centred on creating and sustaining more and better-quality local jobs.

How to deliver great jobs - towards a regional industrial Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk

Against the backdrop of industrial strategy’s newfound prominence, this study focuses on the areas of Norfolk and Suffolk. Its aim is to examine the possibilities for boosting ‘good jobs’ in these areas whilst supporting the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future.

West of England Strategy

The South West TUC welcomes the vision for the West of England to be a beacon of growth and innovation; a place where everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential and where prosperity delivers for everybody. The discussion paper sets out the positive aspects and some bold intentions. In so doing it could be seen as complacent and the plans lack clarity and tangible actions.

Low Pay Commission

This paper sets out the TUC’s response to the Low Pay Commission’s current inquiry.

Is Racism Real?

Experiencing racism at work is part of everyday life for many BME workers, a TUC poll has found.

Image: Gary John Norman/Getty Images

How are we doing?

The impact of Brexit at industry level. Just over a year after the EU referendum, and a year and a half from the deadline for leaving the union, it’s time to take stock of the impact that the decision to leave the EU has had on the UK economy so far.

Engineering workers at Airbus in Bristol. Photo: Matt Cardy / Stringer

GPC Report, Composite Motions and General Council Statements

From welfare to wages?

Consolidated motions and composite motions

Evaluation of Union Learning Fund and unionlearn 2016

The evaluation looked at the impact of the ULF and unionlearn

Universal basic income and the future of work

This paper examines the arguments and evidence for and against Universal Basic Income (UBI) policies, concluding that there are as many potential problems as benefits.

Shaping our digital future

A discussion paper that looks at the potential impact of the ‘fourth industrial revolution’ on the economy and work.

Better jobs for mums and dads

A report about mums and dads – and how we change the world of work to make sure they can balance work and family life.

General Council Report to Congress 2017

The 149th Annual Trades Union Congress, 10–13 September 2017, Brighton. This report this contains details of the work undertaken by the General Council during the past year.

Final Agenda - Congress 2017

A guide to digital Congress documents

It’s not fair for black workers with A-levels to earn less than their white counterparts

TUC General Secretary writes to Kazakhstan Ambassador to call for immediate release of three trade union leaders

Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign Rally

Enforcing the national minimum wage - A practical guide

Flexible working is a real winner for all concerned

TUC denounces violations of ILO Conventions at Sewing International SA (SISA) in Haiti.

Violations of ILO Conventions 87 and 98 at Interamerican Wovens (IW) in the export processing zones of Haiti

Credentials for external visitors - Congress 2017

BBC pay list row should be about the lowest-paid

An Economic and Social Audit of the 'City'

This report attempts to pull together the available research on the City's benefits and costs to the economy and society.

TUC Trade Union Communication Awards

Protection from impunity is as important as any bullet proof vest: working towards human rights protection in Somalia

TUC General Secretary writes to Korean Ambassador to call for release of imprisoned KCTU President

Miners Gala - as relevant today as ever

The Cost of Being Out at Work

Research in to the experiences of LGBT+ workers across the UK. This report offers solid statistics alongside LGBT+ workers' personal stories.

cost of living

Congress 2017 - Media Credentials

Living on the Edge: the rise of job insecurity in Britain 26th June 2017

The Menopause: a workplace issue - Wales TUC

This report is based on a major survey of almost 4000 workers, found that 88% of women workers who've experienced the menopause felt it has an effect on working life, while around 6 in 10 had witnessed the issue being treated as a joke in the workplace. The survey also showed that only a very small number of workplaces have policies in place to support women who experience difficulties during the menopause. The full report is available here in both Welsh and English;

The Great Jobs Agenda: Giving every worker the opportunity to progress

The agenda will give the trade union movement a common set of bargaining asks in workplaces. And it sets out what we want the government to do to ensure that every worker has a great job with fair pay, regular hours and the opportunity to progress.

This report shows the impact of insecurity at work on workers themselves, and on the UK’s economy and public finances. And it reports back from a TUC survey of people in insecure jobs, enabling them to tell us about their experience of work in their own words.

2017 LGBT+ Workers'

2017 Disabled Workers' Conference

Cool it! TUC guide for union activists on dealing with high temperatures at work

Too much work plus staffing cuts equals stress

Concern at working time abuses at Parseq

The North East Needs a Pay Rise

Pay trends in 2016 and outlook for 2017

Accusations and threats of criminal prosecution towards Omar Faruk Osman, Secretary-General of the National Union of Somali Journalists

Tribute to Carole (Harte) Williams- by Kathy Gaffney, Secretary West Midlands Hazards Trust

Insecure work and Ethnicity

Britain Still Needs a Pay Rise - TUC message in Halifax, Slaithwaite, Cleckheaton & Dewsbury

Mental health and employment

This report looks at the employment of disabled people and in particular examines the employment of people with depression and mental illness.

Protecting health and safety after Brexit

Report of Congress 2016

What will you earn in 2022?

Could a bad Brexit deal reduce workers’ rights across Europe?

International trends in insecure work

TUC Aid: Supporting the empowerment of women trade union leaders in the Bangladesh garment industry

TUC Aid Project Report: Supporting Women Trade Unionists in Nicaragua

TUC Aid Project Update: Improving the Conditions of Women Textiles Workers in South India

Workers Memorial Stone Unveiling, Leeds, 28 April

Personal protective equipment and women

Facility time - A TUC guide to defending the right to represent members

"I feel like I can't change anything"

This report looks deeply into labour market trends affecting Britain’s young core workers, and explores new models of trade unionism.

Cultural Manifesto

Gender in occupational safety and health - A TUC guide for trade union activists

Gender checklist on occupational safety and health

TUC Aid Appeal: Peruvian trade unionists hit by floods

Let’s talk about racism - report

Trade Union Act 2016 - A TUC guide for union reps

Guide for Reps. Unions have their own policies which reps should follow. This document is not formal legal guidance, but it summarises the Act and provides some tips for reps.

Support for the Argentinian trade union movement strike against austerity on 6 April

Social Europe: What Working People Want As Article 50 Is Triggered by Frances O'Grady

Huffington Post: As The Prime Minister Triggers Article 50, Unions Will Be Fighting For Working People

Lift the Cap: A fair deal for public service workers

This short report listens to the voices of workers employed in our schools, our NHS and our local council and emergency services.

TUC response to EU proposals for Multilateral Investment Court

Working time, breaks and holidays

This leaflet explains weekly hours limits and night working limits; and your rights to breaks, rest periods and paid holiday.

TUC Budget submission 2017

The Chancellor must ensure the economy is strong enough to protect living standards during this period of uncertainty.

2017 Midlands TUC Annual Conference - in pictures

Breakthrough in the BHS pension saga

Philip Green has agreed to pay £363 million of his own money to plug the massive hole in BHS’ pension scheme, resulting from his time as owner of the high street retailer.

TUC calls on European Parliament to investigate Bangladesh under trade deal

Cancer is a byproduct of industrial policy

More photos from Heart Unions week in Yorkshire & Humber

We need a budget for public services

TUC Aid: Human and trade union rights in Somalia

Disability Aid Abroad - 2016 report

Institute for Apprenticeships - TUC Submission to the Consultation on the Draft Strategic Guidance for the Institute for Apprenticeships

Show Culture Some Love

The impact of increased self-employment and insecure work on the public finances

Unionlearn Supporting Learners conference

Hearts Unions week 2017 pictures

Apprenticeship Levy - 15 useful negotiating tips

People and pensions: a decent retirement for all [1/2/17]

The TUC annual pensions conference on 1 Feb 2017 assessed the key issues that will come under scrutiny in 2017. We can expect the outcome of a review of state pension age, a Green Paper on defined benefit pensions, and a review of automatic enrolment.

scrap tribunal fees to help fight dress code discrimination

US and UK trade union leaders: what we’d like the President and the Prime Minister to discuss

Tackling workplace stress using the HSE Stress Management Standards

Unfortunately while many employers have accepted that stress is a major problem in their workplace, few have an idea how to tackle it effectively. This guide is designed to help.

Health and safety and organising - interactive guide for union reps

An interactive resource available for anyone who wants to consider how to make their workplace safer through building a strong union.

Health and Safety and Organising

EU proposals on health and safety regulation

2017 TUC Union Learning Rep award

2017 TUC Health & Safety Rep award

2017 TUC Terry Rodgers Workplace Rep award

Reform is needed to tackle the UK's pay inequalities

Enough of paying more but getting less: End the rail rip off

International Development Issues

TUC backs unions in Kazakhstan

Greater Manchester: Devolution, Health and Social Care conference - 9 Nov 2016

3.2 million UK workers (1 in 10) are now in precarious work

Living on the edge

TUC Response to the Schools that Work for Everyone Green Paper

We need a clear plan for Brexit that gets the best for Britain

Brexit: a new deal for working people

The TUC’s job is to stand up for working people whichever way they voted in the referendum. That’s why we are calling for a new deal for working people to be put at the heart of the government’s Brexit negotiation strategy.

PM must deliver promise for worker board representation

TUC Aid supports a ‘just transition’ in Bangladesh

TUC Submission to the Technical and Further Education Bill Committee

Sheffield Council backs 'Dying to Work' charter

Occupational hygiene explained

A fairer deal on migration

TUC Disabled Workers Conference 2016

TUC LGBT Workers Conference 2016 - Report

The TUC LGBT Workers Conference brings together trade union activists from across the UK. Here is the paperwork from the 2016 conference.

Taking the temperature of the South West economy

A TUC submission to the Autumn Statement

TUC submission to the 2016 Autumn Statement

NHS safety - Warnings from all sides

Calls on PM to abolish tribunal fees

Hurricane Matthew in Haiti: PSI’s appeal for donations

Uber - Victory for workers

North East still paying price of 2008

Verbatim Report of TUC Congress 2016 (Unedited)

Health and Safety Reps discuss Gender and Occupational Safety and Health

Aberfan- Fifty year anniversary

Barnsley & Fulham Supporters Protest for Qatar Playfair Campaign

Justice denied - impacts of the government’s reforms to legal aid and court services on access to justice

This research aims to add to the existing body of evidence which has looked at the impacts of the government’s reforms to legal aid and court services and cuts to these budgets – on access to justice.

Newcastle and Brentford fans unite for Qatar World Cup workers

GMB ASOS Campaign

Get active in your trades union council

The Battle of Cable Street – 80 Years Ago – We Will Never Forget

ASLEF Sponsored Trade Union Day at Dulwich Hamlet FC was a Triumph that Ended in a Defeat

Theresa May needs to act in order to convince 'workers'

Austerity Has Failed. March and Rally pics

End Austerity Now. Invest. Don’t Cut: National Demonstration in Birmingham, 2 October 2016

UCU Members at London Met University on strike defending ‘quality education for all’

What social partnership means to the Tories

ALL ABOARD - Making worker representation on company boards a reality

This report sets out the case for worker representation on boards, how it works in other European economies, and how it could work here.

Calais refugee camp: TUC statement

BECTU Members at ‘The Ritzy Cinema’ Strike Back Against Low Pay

Is my occupational health provider accredited?

TUC writes to Bangladesh High Commission over workers' rights after deadly factory fire

Medical referrals in employment – Is the Doctor appropriately qualified?

Thousands of workers at risk of disease

TUC letter to International Trade Secretary Liam Fox calling for him to oppose CETA

Industrial Injuries Disablement benefit - a TUC guide

Unemployment rate still a major cause for concern

General Council ballot results 2016

TUC submission to Migration Advisory Committee on teacher shortages

Emergency motion - E7 Turkey and solidarity with the Kurdish population

Emergency motion - E6 HSE board appointment

Emergency motion - E4 Selection in education

Emergency motion - E5 Support for the BMA and junior doctors

Living for the Weekend

The TUC looked at the group of young workers who would most benefit from being in a union. We have called them Britain’s young core workers, because they are the backbone of our economy now and for decades into the future.

demo image

Emeregey Motion: E3 Review of London Underground ticket office closure programme

Emergency Motion - E2 Colombia

Composite Motion: C18 Rights for freelance and atypical workers

Composite Motion: C16 Trade Union Act

Composite Motion: C17 Public ownership of the rail and bus industry

Taking the temperature of the post-Brexit economy

Congress 2016 - archive footage

Q&A with Luca Visentini - ETUC general secretary

Meet the TUC President - Liz Snape

GPC Report and Composite Motions and General Council Statements - Congress 2016

Consolidated motions and composite motions - Congress 2016

Congress Decisions 2016

TUC submission to British Future inquiry calls for right to remain for EU citizens

Postponing the pension: are we all working longer?

This paper examines in detail one of those elements key to this discussion: the rise of the older worker and interrogates the extent to which this trend is widespread. For we need to understand how older workers are faring now to assess whether and how to encourage older people to stay economically active for longer. It pays particular attention to the role that illness and disability plays in older people’s detachment from the labour market.

Fringe guide - Congress 2016

Exhibitors list - Congress 2016

National Inspection Day

TUC Equality Audit 2016 Report

Final Agenda - Congress 2016

General Council Report to Congress 2016

Terremoto: TUC solidarity with Italian unions after devastating earthquake

2016 Trades Union Council Conference resolutions

Britain in the Red: Why we need action to help over-indebted households

Low Pay Commission Inquiry 2016

Preliminary Agenda - Congress 2016

TUC Aid Supports Women Trade Unionists in Nicaragua

Sports Direct has twice the average number of injuries - letter to shareholders

The letter, by the Trade Union Share Owners group, asks fellow shareholders to vote for a resolution tabled at the Sports Direct AGM, calling for the board to commission an independent review of the company’s employment practices and report to shareholders within six months.

Finding your way around TUC Congress 2016

Brighton restaurant guide - Congress 2016

Still just a bit of banter?

This TUC report, based on polling and the experiences of trade union members, gives us both the numbers and the voices to tell the real story.

Tackling sexual harassment in the workplace - A TUC guide for trade union activists

Unions have a crucial role in ensuring that all workers are able to do their jobs free from harassment. This guide will help you deal with cases of sexual harassment in the workplace,

Challenging racism after the EU referendum - Report

PCS Welcomes news on Sheffield civil service jobs but campaign continues

Tell new FIFA President Gianni Infantino to stop foul play in Qatar

Managing migration better for Britain

Vacancy for Industrial benefits adviser

Five-point Brexit plan to protect workers and families

Building support for just transition in Bangladesh

North East Equality Awards 2016 – Applications are OPEN!

It’s time we had worker representatives on company boards

UNISON delegation to Palestine

Powering ahead: How UK industry can match Europe’s environmental leaders

ACTSA’s Campaign for Human Rights and Democracy in Swaziland

Right to be accompanied

Getting it in Proportion? Touchstone Extras pamphlet

TUC calls for reflection before Article 50 triggered

General Council delegation to Palestine and Israel

TUC condemns five year sentence for South Korean Trade Union Leader

Fatigue - A guide for health and safety representatives

TUC Member Trustee News June 2016

The truth about immigration

2016 TUC Women Chainmakers' Festival

Working people must not pay the price for the vote to Leave

The TUC's national action plan to protect the economy, jobs and workers’ rights.

Sandwell Council first Local Authority to sign up to TUC’s Dying to Work Charter for helping terminally ill workers

Working in the UK - Hindi version

Working in the UK - Arabic version

Working in the UK - Tagalog version

Working in the UK - Mandarin version

Wales TUC position on the EU Referendum

Tell your Tory MP: Don't cut a single workers' right when making the UK's new laws

Self-employed Dads need real paternity rights too

Unfinished Business

This report utilises original research by the TUC into the reach of automatic enrolment and modelling by the Pensions Policy Institute of potential policy remedies

TUC condemns murder of Guatemalan trade unionist

TUC Aid Gaza Plant Nursery Appeal Project Update

TUC Aid and ETI improving the conditions of women textile workers in South India

TUC Aid project update: Supporting employment rights of disabled people in Ethiopia

The North’s workers risk being hit hard by Brexit

TUC calls on MEPs to reject Economic Partnership Agreement between EU and Southern African countries

Yorkshire and Humber TUC Executive show support for 'Don't Risk It' EU Remain Campaign

It is time for BBC Management to ‘make the grade’

Sick of the EU discussions yet? This could just be the beginning.

TUC response to TTIP Sustainable Impact Assessment interim report

TUC response to TTIP sustainable impact assessment report

Safe housing for LGBT people is a matter of life and death

CGIL speak out against the Trade Union Act

New Zealand unions speak out against the Trade Union Act

Global transport unions speak out against the Trade Union Act

What are the main issues affecting working people?

It pays for North East workers to remain in the European Union

Up to 40 billion reasons our public services need us in the EU

Better off in - Working people and the case for remaining in the EU

Pension v ISA: what future for workplace saving? - 27th June 2016

Women workers’ rights and the risks of Brexit

Women workers and the EU: The gains from EU membership and the risks of Brexit

Let’s give our children the best start in life as EU members

Disability rights Risks of Brexit

Sickness absence and disability discrimination updated

Whatever happened to Osborne’s ‘march of the makers’?

No to the legislative coup in Brazil

Part-time and temporary workers - Risks of Brexit

Want the latest TUC information about EU Referendum?

Don’t remain silent over Europe

Video: The EU referendum - A big decision. Don't risk it!

Working parents & Carers - Risks of Brexit

Free movement is a two-way street - Brexit would risk it all

Wales TUC - Course Listings Sept 2016 - July 2017

TUC Aid in 2015 – a year in summary

Update: NLC project on HIV-AIDS

Campaigning for LGBT equality in the workplace

This guide on LGBT equality in the workplace is a tool for trade unions to negotiate with employers. Trade unions must continue to push for policies and structures to address the prejudice and oppression LGBT people face this and be at the forefront for campaigning for equality and dignity for all.

EU membership and health and safety - The benefits for UK workers

TUC Visitor Credentials - Congress 2016

Imprisoned Iranian teacher trade unionists to start hunger strike

TUC backs Brazilian unions. No to the coup!

TUC backs Brazilian unions in opposing elite coup attempt (Portuguese translation)

Paddling furiously - SERTUC's tenth survey of equality trade unions

Pay and Parenthood - Touchstone Extras pamphlet

Still work to be done to defeat Trade Union Bill

Bangladesh textile union protest, 3 years on from Rana Plaza

Court of Appeal backs unions on sick absence

Chemicals can hurt wherever you work

TUC condemns attacks on Turkish workers rights

TUC letter to EU Trade Commissioner on China dumping consultation

Ask your Tory MP not to overrule Lords amendments to the Trade Union Bill

SERTUC Celebrate May Day 2016

Race equality - The risks of Brexit

Study links many jobs to non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Six years in jal for building boss after fatal fall

Contractor jailed over trench death

'Blacklisting mastermind' refuses to give evidence

TUC backs Brazilian unions in opposing elite coup attempt

Black, qualified and unemployed

Keyboard use led to RSI and job losses

Workers’ rights from Europe: the impact of Brexit

Making the Case for Public Spending - Touchstone Extras pamphlet

TUC demands release of Saharawi prisoners on hunger strike.

The NHS - How Brexit could affect our health service

British Steel: Why Brexit won’t save our steel

Minimum wage no substitute for strong unions

Trade union vision for Bristol

Health and Safety: What Brexit would mean

In recent years, EU-led improvements in health and safety protection have been more limited than in the past, but the overall contribution of EU regulations on health and safety to the UK workforce is substantial. The UK Government should, not only continue to be part of the European process, but should more actively engage and support an improved and revitalised package of measures aimed at tackling the huge burden of occupational illnesses that are being experienced both in Britain and across the EU.

2016 Mary Macarthur Lecture, Polly Toynbee, March 4

Mids TUC Annual General Meeting - 27 February

The impact of planned cuts to public spending over the 2015-20 Parliament

Higher Education Green Paper 2015 TUC response

Responding to the terrible events in Brussels - Message from Frances O'Grady

Apprenticeship targets for public sector bodies - TUC response

This is a TUC unionlearn submission to the March 2015 “Apprenticeship targets for public sector bodies”.

National Apprenticeship Week 2016 - 14 to 18 March

Women’s Rights - The risks of Brexit

TUC Budget Statement 2016

Equality and mental health in an age of austerity - report

TUC and IDR Pay Bargaining 2016 Conference - 25 February 2016

The Motherhood Pay Penalty

The organising challenges presented by the increased casualisation of women’s work

Workers’ jobs and rights at risk from Brexit

Unionreps mobile app

TUC response to Department of Health consultation on extending health charges for migrants

The Future of Health, Safety and Well-Being at Work

International Women's Day 2016 - What's on in Newcastle?

The Under-pensioned 2016

This TUC-sponsored report The Under-pensioned 2016 carried out by the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI), shows that women have, on average, £7,500 in savings in defined contribution schemes, compared to £14,500 for men. And women typically have £32,000 in pension savings in defined benefit schemes, whereas men have £62,900.

Workers in the North East did over £750million of unpaid overtime last year

Unions are a life-saving, money-saving success

UK employment rights and the EU

Work Your Proper Hours Day 2016

Health & Safety Reps discuss Asbestos; Employment protection for terminally ill workers; the Trade Union Bill and more …

Health and Safety and Organising - A guide for reps

The benefits of paid time off for trade union representatives

Each year more than 230,000 people get training and learning opportunities through their union

Heart Unions - pics from across the Midlands

Yorkshire March for the NHS - Leeds 16 April 2016

MPs Urge Danes to Bring Jobs to Yorkshire

TUC Economic Quarterly 8

Union safety reps save economy millions every year

The Union Effect

Photos from Yorkshire and the Humber heart Unions week

Sunday Trading - TUC response to BIS consultation

203,979 tell David Cameron: Don’t threaten the right to strike

Kicking off a conversation with a colleague about the union is often the most difficult thing to do. To help you here's an eNote with useful tips and guidance to get you talking union.

trade union learners

Freedom pass: where now for workplace pensions?

More than 200,000 people are given training and learning opportunities through their union

Yorkshire and Humber Women's Forum members wear their hearts on their sleeves

Heart Unions: Yorkshire & the Humber Action

Public service workers suffering sleep deprivation

TUC position on the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA)

Equal survivor pensions in the private sector: A briefing for union negotiators

Services and Steel: Challenging government failure in the public and private sector

TUC Aid supports second stage of NGWF leadership training for female garment workers in Bangladesh

TUC Young Workers Action Bulletin No. 7

Real wages still over £1,000 less in the North East than in 2008

ILO Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930

Heart Unions: Midlands Action

Trade Union Bill is an attack on democracy

TUC Aid update: British trade unions supporting Guatemalan banana workers union

Tackling Exploitation in the Labour Market: TUC Response to BIS/Home Office consultation

Working in the UK: Know Your Rights guide

Improving employment prospects of disabled people in Ethiopia

Our Junior Doctors are Defending Patient’s Long-Term Interests

Heartunions week, 8- 14 February 2016

Your next step in trade union education: The BA and MA at Ruskin College, Oxford

Welfare States: How generous are British benefits compared with other rich nations?

Employment Rights online resource guide

A force for good - Join the growing campaign against the trade union bill

Manifesto for Disability Equality

TUC submission to Migration Advisory Committee Shortage Occupation List partial review: nurses

Health and Safety in Flooded Areas

Tackling homophobia in football

Escaping the UK housing crisis: Setting a new vision for 2015-2020

There cannot be a two speed social dimension in Europe

Make sure party remembered for right reasons

Work and well-being - A trade union resource

TUC condemns Dominican Republic's continued failure to protect human rights

Work and Well-being: A Trade Union Resource

Organising Officer Wales and South West Regional Hub – Reference 0515

Young Workers - ice hockey social and organising event 7th November

Migration and the South West

A South West TUC guide to population and migration

map

2015 Reps Awards Night - 27th November

"You don't look disabled": supporting members with invisible impairments

Are you celebrating ‘smallest rail fare rise in six years’?

Report on TUC Young Workers Month 2015

Violence - you must report it to sort it

Cambodian trade union law

Working people need more on industry, jobs and public services

Reporting work-related violence

Women claim the night as march and rally comes to Newcastle

TUC demands defence of British manufacturing

EU referendum: working with Dutch unions to defend workers’ rights

North East will be hit harder by tax credit cuts

New analysis published last week by the TUC reveals that the Chancellor’s tax credit cuts will hit the North East harder than London and the South.

Evaluation finds TUC Aid programme with NGWF garment unionists in Bangladesh built activism and confidence

TUC General Secretary writes to Korean Ambassador to protest against raid and arrest of KPTU unionists

Joint TUC-DGB statement on the UK's EU renegotiation strategy

Bank of England Chief Economist Andy Haldane speaks at the TUC

Solidarity with the people of Paris

Green Collar Nation

TUC solidarity with Greek unions' general strike

Bullying at Work - Guidance for Safety Representatives

Workplace bullying questionnaire

Tax and Redundancy Pay and Other Termination Payments

This is the TUC's response to a government consultation on lowering the £30,000 tax threshold for redundancy pay but exempting other termination payments(like outstanding holiday pay or bonuses).

TUC protests at clampdown on Indonesian unions' minimum wage protest

Highlights from Lobby and rally, London 2 November 2015

Living Wage Week Birmingham Action

Midlands TUC Equalities Conference

Free UNISON Northern Young Members Event

Tweet your MP - Protect the right to strike

Union values have never been more important than now

TUC Young Workers Month 2015

Equity announce Plans for TUC Young Workers Month 2015

Whose Pride is it? (Report)

Every two minutes, a worker somewhere in the UK is made ill through stress at work

FIFA reform - 2015 Congress resolution

Putting Pensions Right - October 1st

Unions say end the deadly asbestos gamble

A worker is made ill by work stress every two minutes

TUC backs MP's call for asbestos removal

Labour MEPs support Dying to Work campaign

Taking your message on union ballots to Sajid Javid MP

Young Workers Support the Right to Strike Social Media Graphics

TUC Young Workers Campaign Action Photos

TUC Young Workers Housing Charter is signed by union Gen Secs and Owen Jones

Young Workers Support the Right to Strike - Young Workers Month Booklet

NUT industrial action at Alfreton Grange Arts College

NUT announce plans for TUC Young Workers Month

Green collar nation: a Just Transition to a low-carbon economy

The asbestos crisis - Why Britain needs an eradication law

Midlands TUC Regional Council, October 17

Rising joblessness is a wake-up call for Government

Nottingham Trade Union Bill rally 15th October

Midlands TUC announce plans for young workers month 2015

Workers’ voice in corporate governance - A European Perspective (2015)

Verbatim Report of Congress 2015 (Unedited)

UNISON announce plans for TUC Young Workers Month 2015

Protect the Right to Strike Lobby - 2 November

Atrocity in Ankara on Saturday

Region will be hard hit by tax credit cuts

Trades Councils and migration

TUC General Secretary writes to Myanmar Ambassador to call for the immediate release of jailed garment union activists

TUC briefing on the Immigration Bill

TUC unionlearn Apprenticeship Levy submission

Preventing misuse of the term “apprenticeships” and “apprentice” in relation to unauthorised training

GreenWorkplaces News- October 2015

Tracking the Labour Market Recovery

Leicester version of TUC’s ‘Working in the UK’

More than 60,000 people took to the streets of Manchester

Union advice can be crucial to support workers with cancer

TUC demands action to dismantle Colombian paramilitary groups

Better Jobs, Closer to home

Strategies for a low carbon industrial future in Yorkshire and the Humber

TUC Congress 2015 - video archive

Report on state pension age and life expectancy for Midlands TUC

Working in the UK - Urdu version

Working in the UK - Gujarati version

Working in the UK- Bangla version

Working in the UK - Punjabi version

4 October demo: Less than a week away

Huge payouts detach bosses from realities

TUC submission to the Migration Advisory Committee review of Tier 2 migration

Government threat to safety reps – get the message out there!

TUC/Warners Trade Union Communication Awards 2015

PensionsWatch 2015

Birmingham Trade Union Bill public rally

Tackling HIV discrimination at work

Damaging low carbon investment: TUC Response to Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry

‘Fair Tips’ Campaign

Workers at NEXT retail are worth decent pay

Let us vote! Allow unions to ballot members online

4 October: TUC national demonstration - Stewards needed

Fight against Trade Union Bill far from over

General Council statement on refugees

General Council statement on EU referendum

Composite motion C18 The Trade Union Bill and building a campaign to stop government attacks

Emergency motion - E3 Government attacks on the emergency services

Emergency motion - E2 Met Office weather forecasting service for the BBC

Emergency motion - E1 Colombia

Reps of the Year Award Winners 2015

10 per cent increase in people working more than 48 hours a week in North East

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