Frances O'Grady
| Frances O'Grady | |
|---|---|
| Born |
9 November 1959 Oxford |
| Occupation | Trade Unionist |
| Known for | First Female Secretary General of the TUC |
| Predecessor | Brendan Barber |
Frances O'Grady (born 9 November 1959) is the General Secretary of the British Trades Union Congress (TUC).[1][2]
Early life and family
O'Grady was born in Oxford,[1] one of five siblings in a family with Irish origins, and brought up as a Roman Catholic.[3] O'Grady was educated at Milham Ford School, a grammar school which became comprehensive during her time there. At Manchester University, she earned a BA Hons in politics and modern history.[4] She also received a Diploma in Industrial Relations and Trade Union Studies at Middlesex Polytechnic.[2]
Her grandfather was a founder member of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, and her father was a shop steward at the Leyland car plant in Cowley.[1]
She was a fan of drama, and by the age of 17 took a part-time job in the kitchens of an Oxford college.[2]
Career
O'Grady worked for the Transport and General Workers' Union, where she opposed the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board and campaigned for a minimum wage. She became TUC Campaigns Secretary in 1994, founded the TUC Organising Academy in 1997, became head of the TUC's organisation department in 1999, and was then elected as Deputy General Secretary in 2003.[5] She was the last person to hold that position before it was abolished in 2012.[6]
In February 2013 she was assessed as the 11th most powerful woman in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4.[7]
In 2013, inline with the TUC, O'Grady was among those who gave their support to the People's Assembly in a letter published by The Guardian newspaper.[8] She also gave a speech at the People's Assembly Conference held at Westminster Central Hall on 22 June 2013.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Moylan, John (10 July 2012). "Frances O'Grady, the new TUC general secretary". BBC. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Bolderson, Claire (7 September 2012). "Profile: Frances O'Grady, the new TUC general secretary". BBC. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ↑ http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=18631
- ↑ Mulholland, Hélène (6 September 2006). "The history woman". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ↑ "Biographical details: Frances O'Grady". Trades Union Congress. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ↑ Dan Milmo, "TUC scraps post of deputy general secretary after 'graduates only' row", The Guardian, 9 December 2012
- ↑ BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour Power list
- ↑ People's Assembly opening letter http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/feb/05/people-assembly-against-austerity 5 February 2013, The Guardian Newspaper.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brendan Barber |
Deputy General Secretary of the TUC 2003–2012 |
Succeeded by Position abolished |
| Preceded by Brendan Barber |
General Secretary of the TUC 2013– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |