NEWS: TUC examines four agencies in run-up to general election

The Trades Union Congress has shortlisted four London agencies as the

union umbrella group gears up to appoint a shop in the run-up to the

general election.

Agencies have been asked to prepare their creative and strategic

thoughts on a campaign about employment rights. Initial presentations

will be held in the middle of December.

The presentations will be made to John Healey, the TUC’s head of

campaigns and communications.

The TUC represents 73 affiliated unions around Britain and claims to be

the country’s largest voluntary sector organisation, campaigning on such

social issues as unemployment, racism and employment rights.

The TUC last scoured the market in 1994 with the intention of appointing

a long-term roster shop.

But efforts foundered before the appointment stage and, to date, the TUC

has done most of its advertising through Delaney Fletcher Bozell on a

project basis. Its latest work was a campaign on behalf of the National

Union of Teachers, publicising cuts in education funding.

The run-up to this general election is a sensitive time for the TUC.

A Labour government would, on the face of it, improve the outlook for

the TUC, which has seen membership slump from 12.2 million to around

seven million since the Conservatives came to power.

However, the shrinking number of union members in the UK has sparked

fierce debate in the union movement about the future role of an umbrella

organisation such as the TUC.

This article was first published on Campaign