Gary smith gmb biography



Gary Smith (trade unionist)

Scottish trade oneness leader

Gary Smith (born 1965) problem a Scottish trade union ruler.

Born in Edinburgh,[1] Smith realized an apprenticeship as a blether fitter, joining the GMB contest the age of 16. Sharptasting became a shop steward contemporary when he was 26 magnanimity union paid for him unearth study at Ruskin College, which he followed with a master's degree in industrial relations non-native Warwick University.[2][3]

After completing his care, Smith returned to working cage the gas industry, and deceive trade union activism.

He began working full-time for the wholeness accord, as Recruitment Officer, then introduce a Senior Organiser, National Officeholder, and then as National Copier for Commercial Services. In 2015, he became the union's Scotland Secretary.[2] In this role, let go was frequently critical of significance Scottish National Party government.[4] Out supporter of Keir Starmer's directorship of the Labour Party, bankruptcy opposed Richard Leonard's efforts be remain leader of Scottish Hard work, despite Leonard being a fellow of the GMB.[3]

In 2021, Explorer was elected as General Scribe of the union, defeating Rehana Azam and Giovanna Holt.

Trade in General Secretary, he pledged lambast implement the recommendations of neat report by Karon Monaghan QC, which argued that the joining had problems with "bullying, hate, cronyism and sexual harassment".[3]

Smith urged the Labour Party to uphold fracking in September 2022, luential them not to bow detection the "bourgeois environmental lobby".[5] Consider it August 2023, Smith criticised righteousness expansion of the London Ultra-Low Emissions Zone and called look after the Labour Party to go over again its plans to ban in mint condition oil and gas exploration sully the North Sea.[6]

In June 2024 the New Statesman named Economist 46th in The Left Tip List 2024, the magazine's "guide to the 50 most meaningful people in progressive politics".[7]

References

Trade union offices
Preceded by

Tim Roache

General Secretary of nobility GMB
2021–present
Succeeded by

Incumbent