Paul Nowak (trade unionist)

Paul Nowak (born May 1972) is a British trade unionist. He has been the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) since 29 December 2022.[1] He was previously the deputy general secretary of the TUC.

Paul Nowak
Nowak in 2022
General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress
Assumed office
29 December 2022
DeputyKate Bell
Preceded byThe Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway
Deputy General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress
In office
2016 – 29 December 2022
General SecretaryBaroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway
Preceded byFrances O'Grady (2013)
Personal details
BornMay 1972 (age 52)
Bebington, England
From 2013 to 2016, Nowak held the position of Assistant General Secretary.

Biography

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Born in Bebington, Merseyside,[2] Nowak first joined as a union member at age 17 when he had a part-time job at Asda. He subsequently became an activist in the Communication Workers Union. He became Vice President of the Wirral Trades Union Council at the age of 19 – the youngest person to hold the post.

He began working for the TUC in 2000. In 2013 he was named TUC Assistant General Secretary, and in 2016 Deputy General Secretary.[3]

He is credited with ensuring that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) guidance for safe working during the pandemic was significantly stronger than that first proposed by ministers. He supported the then TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady in securing the Job Retention Scheme.

The TUC announced in July 2022 that Nowak would be its next General Secretary, taking office from January 2023.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Strikes: Ministers refusing to negotiate on pay, says union body". 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  2. ^ "TUC's new chief says 'my life has been to grow unions, we fight every day for workers'". Mirror. 1 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Paul Nowak". www.tuc.org.uk.
  4. ^ "Paul Nowak to be TUC's next general secretary". www.tuc.org.uk. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
Trade union offices
Preceded by Assistant General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress
2013–2016
With: Kay Carberry
Vacant
Title next held by
Kate Bell
Vacant
Title last held by
Frances O'Grady
Deputy General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress
2016–2022
Vacant
Preceded by General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress
2022–present
Incumbent