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The TUCs History

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

Retail staff

The TUC produces a wide range of research and analysis reports

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Union member action

Nothing beats being a union member, but if you are looking for particular guidance on a workplace issue have a look at our workplace guidance.

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Are you a union rep looking for help and advice to support your colleagues at work? Take a look at our wide range of resources.

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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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Talking Solidarity

Far right extremism is on the rise in Britain. Hate speech spreads unchecked online, and acts of far right terrorism have rocketed. But unions have stronger weapons than the far right — solidarity, trust, and of course, our union reps and activists. This updated TUC Education resource will help you recognise, oppose and play your part in stopping far right activity.

Interactive Guide

Your guide to new Employment Rights 2026

The Employment Rights Act 2025 repeals major parts of the Trade Union Act 2016. These changes take effect from 18 February 2026. Strong collective bargaining rights and unions are key to tackling problems of insecurity, inequality, discrimination, enforcement and low pay.

workers in a warehouse

Stress - from Hazards at Work

This is an excerpt from the TUC book "Hazards at Work, 7th Edition", the best-selling guide to health and safety at work.

Solidarity Support

This short guide gives an overview of some of the ways the TUC Midlands can provide support for unions when they need it most- when they are taking industrial action.

Stuart Richards

Safety representatives and safety committees (Brown book)

The updated edition of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees regulations – commonly known as the Brown Book.

Greener workplaces for a Just Transition

The aim of this toolkit is to help union officers and reps in England who want to take action on the climate emergency, future-proof their jobs, and negotiate for greener and fairer workplaces. It is designed to support the voice of workers and their unions.

green workers

Supporting carers in the workplace

This toolkit is designed to help unions ensure that members who are carers - i.e. those combining work and unpaid caring responsibilities - are supported in the workplace.

Young woman hugging mother on sofa at home, smiling cheerfully at each other

Protecting workers from the risks of violence and racism

Brief for safety reps: measures employers should take to remove or reduce harm risks.

Building Good Work in an age of AI: guide for reps

This practical guide for workplace representatives - developed for the TUC - is designed to equip union reps to undertake the GWAIA process. It is published in parallel with our comprehensive guidance that lays out the legal underpinning for the process, and how it can be used in a collective bargaining process.

TUC Cymru Social Partnership Essentials

A short guide to the Social Partnership and Public Procurement Act in Wales.

Interactive Guide

People at a conference

TUC Education Organising Academy 2025-26 Course Programme

New dates announced for The Organising Academy - Diploma in Organising course.

education

A short guide to help you identify Raac in the workplace and understand the risks it presents.

Interactive Guide

concrete blocks

Minimum service levels during strikes

The right to strike in the UK is being threatened by a draconian new law. Government ministers can now decide that a certain minimum level of service should be provided during strike action in Great Britain. This resource details your rights at work.

ambulance workers

This guidance will give you more information about SPF and how to convince employers to provide SPF sunscreen for workers.

SPF

Ethnicity monitoring

Tackle racist discrimination at work by negotiating with your employer for better ethnic monitoring and reporting on pay, training, promotion and more.

Interactive Guide

people at work

Reasonable adjustments passports

Learn how reasonable adjustments make working life better and fairer for disabled people.

Interactive Guide

people talking at work

Anti-far right political education

This is a new political education course designed by the TUC to be used by our affiliate trade unions. The course outlines the nature, tactics, and origins of the contemporary far right. This is an advanced course aimed at trade union officers and senior workplace representatives.

Cable street

Union Learning Reps 2

The second stage course for union learning reps.

Union Learning Reps 1

The key course for union learning reps.

Managed by Artificial Intelligence

This learning will help you understand the impact that artificial intelligence can have at work and explain how you as a workplace rep can get the best deal for your members.

Interactive Guide

artificial intelligence

The TUC guide to building retrofit at work

Cold and draughty buildings with poor air quality affect our wellbeing and health at work.This leaflet provides suggestions for trade unionists for why and how to start advocating for building retrofit at work.

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How to take action safely and effectively

Despite some of the most repressive laws on industrial action in the western world, it’s legal to strike in the UK – but only if strict requirements are met. This guide will help you understand your rights and support action safely and legally.

Interactive Guide

A set of online interactive learning resources designed to help you support members during industrial action.

Interactive Guide

we demand better rally

People powered technology

The guide is designed to signpost union reps and others on how to gain a basic understanding of the technology, how it operates, and why it matters – before starting any negotiating.

Cover

Discrimination and trade unions - Negotiator's guide

This guide for reps will be taking you through some of the challenges facing BME workers in today’s economy, as well as helping you be proactive in finding solutions.

Protecting the health & safety of pregnant workers

This toolkit is designed to help union reps ensure that the health and safety of members who are pregnant is protected from the moment the rep becomes aware that a member is pregnant, to their return to work and beyond. It is mainly targeted at health and safety reps but will also be useful for other reps who may be the first point of contact for a colleague who is experiencing problems at work because of their pregnancy.

Flexible working

This learning will help you negotiate a flexible working policy with your employer, and support members with their requests.

Interactive Guide

Father and son

How can unions protect workers from extreme temperatures?

Employers are responsible for providing a working environment that is reasonably practical, safe and without risks to health. Are workers in your workplace at risk? What can you do to protect them?

Worker drinking water

Too hot, too cold - guides for reps

This interactive guide will help workplace reps protect workers from extreme temperatures, and fight climate change.

Interactive Guide

thermometer

TUC Publications Catalogue 2022

New guide for workplace reps on long covid.

Interactive Guide

Delivery person

When AI is the boss

This reps guide breaks down the implications of AI in the workplace, so employees and unions can have a say and provide solutions.

Two female factory workers

Organising course for union reps

An online interactive learning resource designed to provide union reps with the skills and knowledge needed to build the strength of their unions.

Interactive Guide

reps

Preventing Sexual Harassment

Our toolkit with practical actions for reps to tackle, prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the workplace

Providing guidance for equality in the workplace, detailing the correlation between low-paid and insecure jobs alongside several protected characteristics.

Pensions can be a daunting topic, but the principles are straightforward. This guide helps reps and workers to get to grips with the basics.

A useful breakdown of your rights at work, depending on your employment status, your statutory rights and your contract with the employer.

Negotiating support for parents and carers

Learning and skills

This is a chapter from the TUC Workplace Manual. Every rep will find The TUC Workplace Manual invaluable, and every rep will appreciate the wealth of practical advice and knowledge in this book.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) - from Hazards at Work book

A guide with basic facts about PPE and hazards encountered at work

Stress - from Hazards at Work book

Basic facts about stress, the effects, the causes and what can safety representatives do?

The role of the union representative

Local representatives are important because they are the backbone of their union. Without representation at workplace level there would be no-one to act as the link between members, the employer and the union and no-one to organise, represent and negotiate on behalf of people in the workplace.

Harmful gambling - guidance for reps

It’s the fastest growing addiction in the UK, and impacts not only the lives of individuals, but their families, communities, colleagues and workplaces. Find out how to spot and support someone affected by harmful gambling.

Interactive Guide

man looking at phone

This interactive learning will help workplace reps support members affected by domestic abuse.

Interactive Guide

group of people at work

Supporting learners

This interactive guide will help workplace reps support learners with learning.

Interactive Guide

group of workers

Climate change proof your workplace: Interactive guide

This interactive guide will help union reps plan your first steps to climate-proofing your workplace.

Interactive Guide

Climate change proof your workplace: Interactive guide

Health and safety - reps guide

Health and safety improvements have come about only because of pressure to improve standards. Trade unions have played a key part in these changes and continue to campaign to safeguard workers.

Go green at work: the union effect

Union environmental reps (green reps) have worked with members and managements on a wide range of green workplace initiatives. Here, we outline the main issues at stake and how unions are getting involved.

Handling Redundancies

The law requires employers to consult properly and act fairly and without discrimination whenever they make staff redundant. This is the case no matter how urgent or dire the economic challenges they are facing, learn about your rights surround redundancy and how to support others with our handling redundancy guide.

Two women having serious conversation

Pocket guide to organising and campaigning

A short guide to help you run organising and recruitment campaigns in your workplace. Get top tips on organising essentials, how to build an organising team, campaigning at work and talking to your work colleagues.

Interactive Guide

guide

Redundancy - short guides for reps

These interactive guides will help you support members at every stage of the redundancy process, including helping them access the knowledge, training and skills they need to move forward afterwards.

Interactive Guide

Covid-19 Coronavirus - Guidance for unions (updated 04 Jan 2021)

This guide is for trade union reps, designed to give you an understanding of the workplace issues in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, and to provide support in being effective at negotiating with employers steps that can be taken to best protect the health and safety of the workforce.

reps talking

The EU Settlement Scheme and supporting EU workers

This guide gives trade union reps essential information on the government's EU Settlement Scheme and its plans for European Temporary Leave to Remain rules. It aims to help reps support members and prevent discrimination.

Supporting non-binary workers

Supporting non-binary workers is an important issue for reps — not only for individuals but because it has implications for workplace equality generally, learn more with this interactive guide.

Interactive Guide

person smiling and working

Kickstart - an introduction for union activists

The new jobs programme announced by the chancellor could help tackle youth unemployment. But we need to make sure it delivers real jobs with training. This briefing for union activists we look at what it does and why it is important, and how unions can best engage in the programme.

Transphobic hate incidents and crimes

This guide will help you understand what transphobic hate incidents is, what to do if you witness a transphobic hate incident, how to report the incident, and tips for reducing transphobia in the workplace.

guide

Supporting non-binary workers

Non-binary people want to be treated with respect in their workplace, and union reps should be there to support them. Explore the ways you can support non-binary workers in your workplace in this interactive guide.

Two transmasculine people sitting together

Face coverings in the workplace

This guide explains why face coverings are used, the difference between face coverings and masks, what the recommended standards are and what union reps can do to support members.

Woman in Covid mask

Talking about antisemitism

Guide for union reps on how to tackle antisemitism in workplaces.

Interactive Guide

People at work

Promoting union learning - a handbook

A handbook for union learning reps (ULRs) and reps involved in learning and skills. This guide is designed to be a helpful resource whether you're a recently elected or appointed rep, or have longer experience in your role.

Cutting carbon, growing skills – green skills for a just transition

The TUC is calling for a just transition for workers and this publication explains the facts around what just transition is and what unions are doing to ensure their members are not left behind.

Unionreps - online community for reps through COVID-19

With over 20,000 members, join the UNIONREPS community and help support each other through COVID-19, strengthening your role in the workplace.

Reps

Better Buses Activist Pack

The TUC believes bus services should be brought back into public (municipal) ownership, and supports measures to franchise buses as a stepping stone to achieving this goal. This pack is designed to give advice on some of the potential campaign tools you may wish to use to achieve better buses in your region.

Covid-19 and reasonable adjustments - guide for reps

More people than ever before are working from home. This has thrown up concerns about reasonable adjustments.

working from home

Supporting apprenticeships during coronavirus pandemic

Many apprentices are facing changes in the workplace now that employers are responding to the coronavirus pandemic. It is important that reps are aware of any issues so that they can support apprentices and raise any concerns with the employer.

10 things trade union members can do NOW to organise on coronavirus at work

How to organise for better terms and conditions during the coronavirus crisis.

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LGBT+ inclusive apprenticeships

This guide aims to help trade union negotiators promote participation and support achievement for apprentices who identify as LGBT+. It identifies practical points that unions can include in dialogue with employers around apprenticeship schemes and steps to take when developing a bargaining agenda.

Menopause support in the workplace

This interactive learning is for union members and reps who want to learn how to support those experiencing difficulties due to menopause in the workplace.

Interactive Guide

woman in green top at a window

ACAS Code of Practice 3

Essential guidance on time off for union duties and activities for union representatives and union learning representatives.

Tackling the far right

Far-right extremism is on the rise in Britain. Hate speech spreads unchecked online, and acts of far-right terrorism have rocketed. But unions have stronger weapons than the far-right — solidarity, trust, and of course, our union reps and activists. Together we can keep our workplaces hate-free.

Interactive Guide

guide

Grievance procedures enable individuals to raise issues with management where they believe their rights have been infringed, or where they have concerns about how they have been treated by a manager, a colleague or a customer.

Challenging conversations

We can't always prevent far-right propaganda spreading, but by talking to people who've been influenced, you can get them to question the lies, and reconsider their views. The video will help you plan these conversations, and use techniques to keep them on track.

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What's the social model of disability?

Our new online learning on the Social Model of Disability. Find out what it does, why it is important, the types of barriers disabled people face, how reps can help and more.

Maintenance in the workplace

Maintenance work can be hazardous. Although it is estimated that 6% of the working population are involved in maintenance work (not always all the time), it is estimated that, throughout Europe, between 15 and 20% of injuries at work happen during maintenance work.

Pocket guide to organising and campaigning

This guide for union members, reps, activists, officers, organisers and anybody who wants to build stronger unions in the workplace and beyond.

TUC Pocket Guide

How to be a good trans ally at work

A guide for trade union members and reps on how to support their trans members.

support

Responding to harmful work-related stress

Guidance for union representatives on making complaints to the HSE or Local Authority enforcement agencies

The real Living Wage

An interactive guide for workplace reps on the real Living Wage.

Man and child

National Retraining Scheme - Get Help to Retrain

An overview of the National Retraining Scheme to help prepare adults for future changes to the economy.

The real Living Wage

1 in 8 working adults live in poverty, and the vast majority of them will never escape low-paid work. The real Living Wage can transform their lives, but it needs reps like you to make it happen, learn more with this interactive guide.

Interactive Guide

The living wage, images of British money

Understanding grievances and disciplinaries

Talking about the union

A strong union relies on reps to attract new members and get them involved. It's easy when you know how, find out more in this interactive guide.

Interactive Guide

Man listening in a conversation with another man

Young workers employment rights

Find out more about young people's rights in the workplace and the benefits of joining a union.

ose-up portrait of a happy young woman working in a distribution warehouse

Working time, breaks and holidays - Know your rights

The law relating to your working time is complicated. Some bad employers take advantage of this to deny staff their rights. Others may not understand what the law requires. Step by step, this page explains weekly hours limits and night working limits; and your rights to breaks, rest periods and paid holiday.

Protection from sexual harassment - Women

You are protected from sexual harassment in the workplace by the Equality Act 2010. It does not matter how long you have worked for your employer or whether you are a permanent employee, an apprentice or trainee, on a fixed-term contract or supplied by an agency, you are still protected by this legislation.

Cancer in the Workplace

Produced in partnership with Macmillian Cancer Support, this guide raised awareness of the impact of cancer in the workplace and how union reps can support member affected by cancer in the workplace.

Interactive Guide

two women talking

Trade Unions in Schools

Resources for the Yorkshire Trade Unions in Schools project

group work

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and health and safety

Guidance to help reps ensure their employer have processes in place to protect and support women during and after pregnancy, and also how to support any members who have any problems or concerns.

Write with purpose

Good writing skills are an essential part of communication. This guide will help you improve your writing skills and tackle everyday writing tasks such as writing letters and reports and offers practical advice, learn more in our interactive guide.

Interactive Guide

writing

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