About the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)

Throughout our country’s history, the union movement has always been at the forefront of the struggle for a fair go.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is the peak body for Australian unions, made up of over 30 affiliated unions who together represent almost two million workers and their families.

We provide a single representative union voice to the government and employers.

Since its creation in 1927, the ACTU has spearheaded some of the most fundamental workplace  and social struggles in Australia’s history.

The workplace improvements are many: decades of wage increases through the award system and campaigns in the field, safer workplaces, greater equality for women, improvements in working hours, entitlements to paid holidays and better employment conditions, the establishment of a universal superannuation system, paid parental leave and paid family and domestic violence leave.

The ACTU has played a role in all of these achievements. Every worker in Australia has benefited from the victories of the union movement.

The ACTU has contributed to fairness and justice in the entire community as well – contributing to Australia’s major social institutions, including progressive taxation, the social security system, universal Medicare, fairer migration, decent education – to name just a few.

The ACTU’s job is to organise working people in their union to win big, important and permanent improvements to work, workplaces and broader society. 

The ACTU doesn’t just talk about change. It makes it happen, through a shared vision and strength in numbers. If you believe that you can take action to make your work and society better, join us by becoming a member of your union.

The ACTU’s role as peak body is to coordinate union campaigns, represent workers at a range of government and non-government forums in Australia and overseas, to provide industrial, policy and other support to affiliates, and encourage workers to join their union.

The ACTU has four elected officers, and an elected Executive of representatives from affiliates and state and territory trades and labour councils. The peak decision-making body, ACTU Congress, meets every three years.

The ACTU’s head office is in Melbourne, with smaller offices in other state capitals.

If you would like to know more about the ACTU please visit actu.org.au.