Search
Member area

About TUAC

Download the About the TUAC Brochure

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.

Conveying Trade Union Positions

An annual meeting of the TUAC/ OECD Liaison Committee is organised with members of the OECD Council and the OECD Secretariat to allow for exchanges on future policy priorities and recommendations. TUAC releases a statement for, and attends, the annual OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. It also submits policy evaluations to the OECD Council throughout the year. Trade union representatives participate in over 60 OECD bodies (OECD Committees and Working Groups) and policy events.

Facilitating Policy Dialogue

TUAC’s consultative status at the OECD enables an ongoing social dialogue. On average, over 500 trade union representatives take part in TUAC and OECD meetings each year.

Briefing on and Evaluation of OECD Policies

TUAC briefs affiliates on current OECD projects and policies on an ongoing basis and coordinates policy statements and evaluates the outcomes of OECD meetings and publications. The TUAC secretariat regularly presents OECD policy issues at trade union and other external meetings.

Convening Meetings

TUAC has three standing Working Groups:

  • Economic Policy
  • Education and Skills
  • Multinational Enterprises

The Working Groups prepare TUAC positions both for TUAC’s bi-annual membership meetings (Plenary Sessions), as well as for consultations with the OECD. Working Groups are open to all affiliates, international trade unions and TUAC partner organisations.

Organisational Structure

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

President

Liz SHULER

President of TUAC and President of AFL-CIO

President of TUAC

Vice Presidents

Therese GUOVELIN

Vice President of TUAC and First Vice President of LO

Vice President of TUAC

Marc LEEMANS Marc LEEMANS on Twitter

Vice President of TUAC and President of CSC

Vice President of TUAC

Hideyuki SHIMIZU

Vice President of TUAC and General Secretary of JTUC-RENGO

Vice President of TUAC

General Secretary of TUAC

Veronica NILSSON Veronica NILSSON on Twitter

General Secretary of TUAC

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.