A global union federation is an international federation of national and regional trade unions organising in specific industry sectors or occupational groups, sometimes also known as an international trade secretariat.

Most major unions are members of one or more global union federations, relevant to the sectors where they have their members. Normally, the individual union will also be affiliated to a national trade union center, which in turn can be affiliated to a world body such as the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, ICFTU.

Together with the ICFTU and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD, ten global union federations jointly own and manage the web site Global Unions.

List of global union federations

• Education International Official site
• International Federation of Building and Wood Workers Official site
• International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions Official site
• International Federation of Journalists Official site
• International Metalworkers' Federation Official site
• International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation Official site
• International Transport Workers' Federation Official site
• International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Association Official site
• Public Services International Official site
• Union Network International Official site