Labour Research Department

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The Labour Research Department (LRD) is an independent trade union based research organisation, based in London, that provides information to support trade union activity and campaigns. LRD's publications Labour Research, Bargaining Report, Fact Service and LRD Booklets, along with an Enquiry Service provide detailed information for supporting negotiations and campaigns. About 2,000 trade union organisations, including 54 national unions in the UK, representing more than 99% of total Trades Union Congress (TUC) membership, are affiliated.

LRD had its beginnings as the Committee of Inquiry into the Control of Industry, set up by the Fabian Society in 1912. The following year the committee was consolidated as the Fabian Research Department. Its first monthly bulletin was established in 1917, as the Monthly Circular. In 1918 the organisation broadened its membership and changed its name to the Labour Research Department. Since then the organisation has become a source of information for British trade unionists at all levels of organisation.