Derek Simpson (trade unionist)

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Derek Simpson (born 23 December, 1944) is the General Secretary of the Amicus trade union. He was the surprise winner of the June 2002 election for the position of Joint General Secretary of the AEEU Section of Amicus. He beat Tony Blair's 'favourite trade unionist' - Sir Ken Jackson. He assumed the position of General Secretary in May 2004 following the departure of the MSF Section's JGS, Roger Lyons.

In the above election, Derek was seen as the left candidate, and was backed by the broad left in the AEEU, now known as Amicus Unity Gazette. During this election campaign he appeared at fringe meetings of the Amicus MSF section conference in Blackpool, defying an instruction from Jackson not to attend. He is still identified with the Unity Gazette and has appeared at many of their national meetings.

Derek has repeatedly denied press claims, made before and after his election, that he was part of the "Awkward Squad"[1]. Since becoming General Secretary, he has been supportive of the links between Amicus and the Labour Party. At one time a member of the Communist Party of Britain, he joined the Labour Party in 1994. He was involved in the negotiation that let to the Warwick Agreement, in which the Labour Party agreed to implement some of the trade unions' policies during their third term. He favours the early departure of Tony Blair as Labour Party Leader and Prime Minister.

As the leader of one of the so-called "big four" unions, Derek Simpson enjoys significant influence within the Trades Union Congress and the Labour Party, particularly as Amicus is predicted to merge with one of the other big four unions, the TGWU.

[edit] Career history

Derek Simpson was born and educated in Sheffield. He joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) on becoming an apprentice at the age of 15, and held a number of increasingly senior union positions in workplaces where he was employed. In 1981 he became the union's District Secretary for Sheffield and was still working for the union in that city when he stood for the position of Joint General Secretary in 2002.

In 1987 he received an Open University degree in Computing and Mathematics.

[edit] Trivia

Derek Simpson once worked in a greyhound stadium, controlling the starting cage.

He has let it be known that he is a fan of Star Trek. He appeared alongside Patrick Stewart in an Amicus DVD produced for the 2005 General election, urging support for the Labour Party.