Gary Smith (trade unionist)
Gary Smith is a Scottish trade union leader.
Born in Edinburgh, Smith completed an apprenticeship as a Gas Fitter, joining the GMB at the age of 16. He became a Shop Steward and when he was 26 the union paid for him to study at Ruskin College, which he followed with a master's degree in industrial relations from Warwick University.[1][2]
After completing his education, Smith returned to working in the gas industry, and to trade union activism. He began working full-time for the union, as Recruitment Officer, then as a Senior Organiser, National Officer, and then as National Secretary for Commercial Services. In 2015, he became the union's Scotland Secretary.[1] In this role, he was frequently critical of the Scottish National Party government.[3] A supporter of Keir Starmer's leadership of the Labour Party, he opposed Richard Leonard's efforts to remain leader of the Scottish Labour Party, despite Leonard being a member of the GMB.[2]
In 2021, Smith was elected as General Secretary of the union, defeating Rehana Azam and Giovanna Holt. As General Secretary, he pledged to implement the recommendations of a report by Karon Monaghan QC, which argued that the union had problems with "bullying, misogyny, cronyism and sexual harassment".[2]
References[]
- ^ a b Evans, Rima (17 March 2021). "Gary Smith, GMB Union Scotland Secretary". IR Guru. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ a b c "GMB: Union elects Gary Smith as general secretary". BBC News. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ McCall, Chris (3 June 2021). "Scottish trade union veteran Gary Smith elected general secretary of GMB". Daily Record. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- Living people
- Alumni of Ruskin College
- Alumni of the University of Warwick
- General Secretaries of the GMB (trade union)
- Trade unionists from Edinburgh
- Scottish trade unionists