About TUAC

The Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  is an international trade union with consultative status at the OECD. TUAC represents the views of the labour movement at the annual OECD Ministerial Council Meeting and in regular meetings of the OECD Committees.

TUAC membership consists of 58 affiliated trade union centres from OECD countries, representing 50 million workers, as well as associated members in Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa. TUAC operates a 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 the trade union priorities to inform OECD policies.

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 policy development 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 industry 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.  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

The Working Groups inform TUAC policy statements and 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 Administrative Committee.