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What is the internal structure of the TUC?

General Secretary

The head of the TUC is the General Secretary. The post is currently held by Brendan Barber who was elected at the 2003 Congress. He has overall responsibility for the TUC and acts as its lead spokesperson. Two other senior staff are appointed by the General Secretary - the Deputy General Secretary, Frances O'Grady, and the Assistant General Secretary, Kay Carberry.

Image: Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, gives the keynote speech at the 2003 Congress. Credit: TUC

TUC internal structure diagram

Secretary's Department General Secretary Deputy General Secretary Assistant General Secretary and European Unit
Economic and Social Affairs Department	Equal Rights Department	International Department	Management Services and Administration Department	Organisation and Services Department	Campaigns and Communications Department

TUC staff

The TUC employs more than 300 people. Most work at head office in Congress House in central London. The rest are based at the National Education Centre in London, in the regions or in the TUC office in Brussels.

TUC Education Service

The TUC runs an extensive programme of courses for trade unions throughout the UK. The courses, run locally by TUC Regional Education Officers, help shop stewards develop the skills they need to represent their members effectively and cover issues like employment law, pensions, equality and health and safety. The courses are free to representatives from affiliated unions and attract over 25,000 enrolments each year.

There is also the TUC National Education Centre, which provides training and development services for professional trade union officers and staff.

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