Trade unions in Azerbaijan were first established in 1905 on October 17 by “konka” workers and servants in Baku. In November, the printing workers united in a trade union. At that time, there were also small unions of office workers, city workers, mine workers, and merchant shipping workers. At the end of 1905, the Bureau of the Union of unions” was established in Baku.
In 1906, on March 4, a special law on trade union was adopted- Temporary rule on trade unions established for individuals or owners of these enterprises in trade and industrial enterprises. This law provided trade unions with the opportunity to legally operate with the recognition of their constitution by the management of the enterprise.
The position and activity of trade unions in the socio-political life of Azerbaijan was of great importance even during the years of Soviet power. But it was directed more to serve to gain the influence of Soviet ideology and to promote Communist-Bolshevik ideas. Great Leader Heydar Aliyev constantly supported trade unions during his leadership of Azerbaijan (1969-1982). It was during the leadership of the great leader in the Republic that trade unions began to return to their basic principles, from which they moved away, and the ranks expanded. The main attention was paid to improving the living conditions of workers, increasing and protecting their rights, protection of recreation and health. The number of recreation centers and sanatoriums has been increased, new children's camps have been created. It can be said that trade unions operated in all enterprises, regardless of their destination, covering many areas of public life. This was of great importance in protecting the labor rights of people, as well as in their unification and socialization.
The crisis that covered all spheres in the early years of independence had a negative impact on the activities of public organizations. The cessation of the activities of production enterprises, plants, factories, the growth of unemployment, as well as the tension prevailing in the country's public political life, reduced the scale and quality of the activities of trade unions, which were the largest and most massive organizations, and weakened their social base.
The current conditions made it necessary to reform trade unions. In 1992, 6 trade unions that entered the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Council - the Power Plants and Electrical Engineering, Motor Transport and Road Economy, Communications, Entrepreneurship, Aviation and Construction Complex Workers' Trade Unions - declared their dissatisfaction with the activities of this organization and raised the initiative to convene an extraordinary congress. At the founding congress held on February 5, 1993, the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Council dissolved itself and transferred its powers to the confederal-type Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation.
In 1993, with the return of Great Leader Heydar Aliyev to the leadership of the country at the request of the people, as in all areas, fundamental changes took place in the life of public organizations, including trade unions. As a public organization, trade unions worked diligently within the framework of their functions and authorities to support the Great Leader's mission of salvation, improve the social, economic and cultural life and well-being of working people, protect their rights, and also to ensure the integrity of the country and eliminate the socio-political and socio-economic crisis.
In 1994, under the personal initiative and control of the National Leader, the Law “On Trade Unions” was adopted in Azerbaijan for the first time in the former post-Soviet space. Thus, a legal basis was created for the regulation of the organization's activities in society based on new principles and for its active participation in protecting the socio-economic interests of our citizens.
Thus, his proposals played a decisive role in the adoption of decisions on important issues related to the solution of socio-economic problems of the population both in the Milli Majlis and in the Cabinet of Ministers. More than 120 proposals on the Labor Code of ATUC were taken into account, closely participating in the preparation of legislative acts on Labor, Social and economic issues, and closely participated in the preparation and examination of about 50 normative legal acts.
The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, is constantly interested in the activities of the ATUC, sends congratulatory letters to its congresses, gives valuable recommendations, awards trade union figures and activists with state awards, and highly appreciates the role of trade unions in protecting people's economic and social interests and labor rights.
Today, the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation with more than 16 thousand trade union organizations and more than 1 million union members, unites Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and 27 sectoral trade union associations and represents and defends their labor, socio-economic rights and interests.
It is a member of the International Labor Organization, the International Trade Union Confederation, the Pan-European Regional Council, the General Confederation of Trade Unions, and the Turkic States Trade Union Organization. ATUC has bilateral friendly relations with trade union centers in about 70 countries.
The Tourist and Excursion Board
"Kurort" Closed Joint Stock Company
Azerbaijan Academy of Labor and Social Relations
Public Unity for safe future of trade unions
The Public Association of Sport Organizations
Garage of ATUC
The Supreme Body of the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation (the ATUC) is the Congress, which is convened by the Assembly no later than once every seven years.
The Congress is considered authorized if at least two-thirds of the elected representatives from the member organizations are present.
Decisions of the Congress are made by simple majority.
The working order of the congress is determined by its representatives.
The Supreme Body of the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation (the ATUC) during the inter-congress period is the Assembly, which was established on the principle of direct and equal number of representatives sent by all member organizations.
Each member organization sends 5 members to the Assembly by being elected at their congresses (conferences) or plenums.
Meetings of the assembly are convened when necessary, but not less than once a year or at the request of one third of the member organizations.
The chairman of the confederation and his deputies are members of the Assembly and report to the Assembly.
Meetings of the Majlis are considered authorized with the participation of more than half of the members of the Majlis. Decisions of the assembly are adopted by a simple majority of votes. Voting rules are determined by the Assembly, except for the cases provided for in this Charter.
It is the executive-ordering body of the Azerbaijan Trade Unions Confederation (the ATUC) during the intersessional period of the Assembly to consisting the ATUC Chairman, his Deputies and one Authorized Representative of each Member Organization.
Meetings of the Executive Committee are held when necessary, but not less than once a quarter.
Meetings of the Executive Committee are considered authoritative when more than half of its members are present, and decisions are made by simple majority.
