About TUAC

The Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is the interface for trade unions with the Organisation and its members. It is an international trade union with consultative status at the OECD. TUAC coordinates and represents the views of the labour movement throughout the Organisation, including at the annual OECD Ministerial Council Meeting and in OECD Committees and Working Groups.

TUAC has 59 affiliated trade union centres in OECD countries, representing more than 58 million workers in 2018, as well as associate members in Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa. TUAC operates through its Paris-based secretariat. TUAC’s origins go back to 1948 to the trade union advisory committee established under the Marshall Plan. When the OECD was created in 1962, TUAC continued its work of representing organised labour’s views.

TUAC’s policy advocacy aims to create shared prosperity within and between countries, including quality jobs, and to assert the positive role of trade unions and collective bargaining in achieving inclusive growth. Access to OECD discussions enables TUAC to act as a “first mover” within the labour movement in responding to new and emerging policy challenges.

TUAC works closely with other international trade unions, including the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), with which it co-ordinates trade union inputs to the G20 (through the Labour 20) and G7 processes, and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). On sector-specific issues, TUAC works with the Global Union Federations (GUFs) and is a member of the Council of Global Unions.

Organisational Structure

The President, Vice-Presidents and the General Secretary are elected for four-year renewable terms.

Vice Presidents

Acting General Secretary of TUAC

Formal decision-making structure

Plenary Session

The TUAC Plenary Session is the official decision-making body. It meets twice a year and gathers TUAC affiliates and representatives of other international trade unions. The Plenary Session discusses and approves policy statements, the work programme, budget, and future priorities. It also elects TUAC Officers.

Administrative Committee

The Plenary Session is supported by the Administrative Committee, which is in charge of overseeing the management of TUAC. The Administrative Committee is comprised of:

• the President
• the Vice-Presidents and
• the General Secretary, as well as
• its members which are currently from the following organisations:
  • AFL-CIO, USA;
  • CSC, Belgium;
  • RENGO, Japan;
  • ASÍ, Iceland (on behalf of the Council of Nordic Trade Unions);
  • TUC, United Kingdom;
  • DGB, Germany;
  • CFDT, France;
  • CGT-Force Ouvrière, France;
  • UIL, Italy;
  • ÖGB, Austria; and
  • CLC, Canada.

The Working Groups

The TUAC has three standing Working Groups

• on Economic Policy
• on Education and Skills and
• on Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct

to help shape TUAC policy advocacy and policy analysis at the OECD. The Working Groups also serve broader purposes for the labour movement, including serving as internal trade union fora for policy discussions in close partnership with other international trade union organisations. The chairs and vice-chairs are appointed by the Plenary upon recommendation by the Adminsitrative Committee.