Why does the FCO work with Trade Unions?
As economic decisions become more global, so British trade unions are more involved with international organisations and counterparts overseas. British trade unions have long played a wider international role in helping promote democracy and human rights. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is committed to working in partnership with trade unions on the wider agenda of promoting good governance around the world. What does the FCO do? The FCO/TUC Advisory Council meets three times a year to discuss issues such as climate change, migration and Brazil’s emerging economy. The meeting is usually chaired by the Minister for Trade (currently Ian McCartney) and the TUC delegation is usually led by the General Secretary (currently Brendan Barber). Other key activities are a number of trade union projects around the world. Typical of the work we fund is a project in Brazil aimed at strengthening labour laws and improving the capacity for industrial dispute resolution with the TUC, ICTU and
