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Q&A: The TUC Q&A: The TUC
(40 minutes later)
Congress House in central London is the TUC's headquartersCongress House in central London is the TUC's headquarters
The TUC is meeting in Liverpool for its annual congress. But what is the TUC and who are its members?The TUC is meeting in Liverpool for its annual congress. But what is the TUC and who are its members?
What is the TUC?What is the TUC?
The TUC (Trades Union Congress) represents the majority of trade unions in Britain. It is made up of 58 affiliated unions representing nearly seven million people. Founded in 1868, its early work involved co-ordinating the efforts of skilled workers to gain recognition from employers and saw it lobby the government to give more rights to workers.The TUC (Trades Union Congress) represents the majority of trade unions in Britain. It is made up of 58 affiliated unions representing nearly seven million people. Founded in 1868, its early work involved co-ordinating the efforts of skilled workers to gain recognition from employers and saw it lobby the government to give more rights to workers.
Who are its members?
The union with the largest affiliation to the TUC is Unite, which has nearly two million members, and was formed in 2007 after a merger between the Transport and General Workers Union and manufacturing union Amicus. The smallest is drink firm Diageo's Staff Association, which speaks for 393 employees. Others represented by the TUC include Unison with 1.3 public sector members, and the GMB and National Union of Teachers with 590,000 and 282,000 members respectively. The Professional Footballers Association and actors' union Equity are both affiliated to the TUC.
Are all unions affiliated to the TUC?Are all unions affiliated to the TUC?
The TUC represents the majority of trade unions in Britain, including the country's largest Unite, which has nearly two million members. But a number are not affiliated. According to the TUC, the majority of these are small organisations representing specialist staff, who are often employees of a particular organisation. The largest grouping not affiliated to the TUC is the 140,000-strong Police Federation, which is prohibited by law from doing so. The TUC represents the majority of trade unions in Britain. But a number are not affiliated. According to the TUC, the majority of these are small organisations representing specialist staff, who are often employees of a particular organisation. The largest grouping not affiliated to the TUC is the 140,000-strong Police Federation, which is prohibited by law from doing so.
What does the TUC do?What does the TUC do?
The TUC build links with political parties, businesses and local communities and campaigns on economic and social issues. It also represents British workers in the European Union and at the UN's employment body, the International Labour Organisation. The TUC's General Council meets every two months at Congress House in central London to oversee the TUC's work programme and sanction new policy initiatives. The TUC is headed by Brendan Barber, who became general secretary in 2003.The TUC build links with political parties, businesses and local communities and campaigns on economic and social issues. It also represents British workers in the European Union and at the UN's employment body, the International Labour Organisation. The TUC's General Council meets every two months at Congress House in central London to oversee the TUC's work programme and sanction new policy initiatives. The TUC is headed by Brendan Barber, who became general secretary in 2003.
Why does the TUC meet annually?Why does the TUC meet annually?
The TUC's decision-making body is the annual congress. It takes place over four days each September and brings unions affiliated to the TUC together to draw up policies and lobby the government. Each union sends delegates to Congress. Motions are proposed and discussed and form the basis of the TUC's work for the following year.The TUC's decision-making body is the annual congress. It takes place over four days each September and brings unions affiliated to the TUC together to draw up policies and lobby the government. Each union sends delegates to Congress. Motions are proposed and discussed and form the basis of the TUC's work for the following year.
Does the TUC have any political connections?Does the TUC have any political connections?
The Labour Party grew out of a Parliamentary Committee established by the TUC in the late 1900s. But TUC is not connected to Labour itself. Not all the unions represented by the TUC are affiliated to Labour. But the majority of Labour's affiliated membership comprises unions which carry the greatest representation in the TUC.The Labour Party grew out of a Parliamentary Committee established by the TUC in the late 1900s. But TUC is not connected to Labour itself. Not all the unions represented by the TUC are affiliated to Labour. But the majority of Labour's affiliated membership comprises unions which carry the greatest representation in the TUC.
How has the TUC's structure and work changed over the years?How has the TUC's structure and work changed over the years?
Membership of unions affiliated to the TUC has declined from 13.7 million in 1979 to about seven million today. There has also been a change in the structure and composition of the TUC. Its biggest member is Unite, formed by a merger of the Transport and General Workers Union and manufacturing union Amicus in 2007. But public sector unionism is now at the centre of the TUC. Unison, with about 1.3 million members speaks for local government, NHS and school staff. However, the health and education sectors are represented by several different unions, some of which have codes of professional ethics that makes them reluctant to take strike action. Membership of unions affiliated to the TUC has declined from 13.7 million in 1979 to about seven million today. There has also been a change in the structure and composition of the TUC. Public sector unionism is now at the centre of the TUC. Unison, with about 1.3 million members speaks for local government, NHS and school staff. However, the health and education sectors are represented by several different unions, some of which have codes of professional ethics that makes them reluctant to take strike action.