Norman Willis
Norman David Willis (born 21 January 1933 in Ashford, Surrey) was the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in the United Kingdom from 1984–1993, and President of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) 1991–93.
Life
He attended Ashford County Grammar School in Ashford, Middlesex, and studied at Oriel College, Oxford. He was a Labour councillor on Staines UDC from 1971–4.
Career
TGWU
He worked for the TGWU from 1949–1951, before two years National Service. From 1959–1970 he was the personal assistant to the General Secretary of the TGWU.
TUC
He became assistant General Secretary of the TUC in 1974. The leadership of Norman Willis from 1984[1] coincided in the late 1980s with a period of considerable change for the Trade Union movement in the UK: union membership was falling; the movement was facing power-limiting legislation from the Conservative government; and the Labour Party was conducting a fundamental review of its policies and the nature of its links with the unions.[2]
Personal life
He is a patron of the Embroiderers' Guild,[3] a British embroidery organisation, and former President of The Arthur Ransome Society (TARS). He is a renowned raconteur. He married Maureen Kenning in 1963. They have a son and a daughter.
References
- ↑ Glasgow Herald. "Brighton rock". 3 September 1984, p. 8. Retrieved on 25 May 2013.
- ↑ McKinlay, John. "Strike ballot vote sets scene for Kinnock". Glasgow Herald, 2 September 1986, p. 7. Retrieved on 25 May 2013.
- ↑ GetHampshire.co.uk. "Community stitch-up on show". 27 November 2007. Retrieved on 25 May 2013.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Len Murray |
Assistant General Secretary of the TUC 1973–1977 |
Succeeded by David Lea |
| Preceded by New position |
Deputy General Secretary of the TUC 1977–1984 |
Succeeded by Kenneth Graham |
| Preceded by Len Murray |
General Secretary of the TUC 1984–1993 |
Succeeded by John Monks |
| Preceded by Ernst Breit |
President of the ETUC 1991–1993 |
Succeeded by ? |