Francis O’Grady will stand down as general secretary of Trade Union Congress at the end of in year.
first woman to hold post in BKT 154-year-old history she said it was the greatest honor of serve your life trade union movement in a turbulent decade for workers.
Leader of United Kingdom union traffic umbrella group since January 2013 O’Grady has played an instrumental role early in the Covid pandemic, working alongside Caroline Fairbairn, then head of CBI, business lobby group, in Painting up dismissal scheme with Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Her departure comes after one of most difficult times in contemporary history for workers, with years of austerity cuts for public sector personnel and wage stagnation and rise in dangerous work through economy.
highly respected for her work fight for workers’ rights in in aftermath of 2008 financial crisis and during the Covid pandemic, O’Grady is credited with raising the profile of the campaign. of TUC in due time in fees, in particular on issues affecting women and vulnerable workers during the boom in concert economy.
“Trade unions are force for good in British Society. I’m proud of what we have achieved during the pandemic – from layoffs to retention people safe in workstanding up for equality and keeping vital services running,” she said. “I’m proud of in work we do every day protecting jobs, wages, rights and working conditions.”
Her planned departure goes like a bet of union membership rise steadily for in first time in decades amid worsening economic unrest caused by rising in women joining trade unions. Number of trade unions climbed to 6.6 million from low of 6.2 million around 2017. However, this is only half of peak level of 13.2 million reached in 1979 year Margaret Thatcher became prime minister.
O’Grady said: last the decade was tumultuous with three general elections, two anti-trade union bills, a referendum in the EU and a pandemic with. But on every time the trade unions rose to challenge and fought for working people”.
As part of Search for her successor each affiliated union can name a candidate before the closing date for nominations on July 11th. If a more how one nominated, elections will be held at the annual TUC congress this fall with each union vote cast on This total membership.
Everyone of BKT last three general secretaries were deputies of the organization prior to their election, including O’Grady, while each ran for the work was unopposed after providing sufficient support from affiliated unions. O’Grady’s deputy is Paul Novak, trade trade unionist from Birkenhead on Wirral.
49-year-old Novak became deputy general secretary in 2016, having joined organization in 2000 after working as call center operator, hotel porter and bus information the officer. He first become union member aged 17 working part-time at Asda.
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Labor leader Keir Starmer paid tribute to O’Grady’s work at the TUC, saying she was “great champion for working people all my life”, adding that her decision resigning was a “huge loss” for organization.
“I will always be grateful for her support and friendship. In the interests of @UKLabour thanks for your incredible contribution to public life and best wishes for in future”, he tweeted.
O’Grady was elected general secretary in December 2012, and officially took up Position in January 2013 when her predecessor Brendan Barber retired. She served on number of public bodies and commissions, including the Commission on Low and High Wages, and was a member of court of bank of England since 2019.
