Tim Roache

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Roache speaking at the 2016 Labour Party Conference

Tim Roache (born 1962) is a British trade unionist. He was General Secretary of the GMB union.

Union career[]

Roache grew up in London, where his father was a shop steward on the docks. In 1979, he began working in the postroom of the GMB, over time being promoted to become a legal officer, then an organiser, and finally in 2007 as the union's Regional Secretary for Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.[1]

In 2009, Roache led a 13-week strike of refuse workers and street cleaners employed by Leeds City Council; this was the longest strike in the GMB's history.[2] He also ran the "End Foul Pay" campaign for football clubs to pay ground staff higher wages.[3]

Roache was elected as General Secretary and Treasurer of the GMB in November 2015, receiving 56.7% of the vote on a turnout of 4.2%, beating the one other candidate, Paul McCarthy.[4] Roache took up the post in 2016.[2] He was re-elected in 2019 with 61% of the vote.[5]

In April 2020 Roache resigned suddenly, on the grounds of ill health,[6][7] amid reports he had been forced to resign.[8] A GMB statement said Roache's chronic fatigue syndrome illness some years ago had restarted and he resigned following medical advice.[9] After receiving anonymous allegations about Roache's conduct, the union conducted a barrister-led internal inquiry,[10] which concluded that bullying, misogyny, cronyism and sexual harassment were "endemic" within the union.[11]

Other interests[]

Alongside his role in the GMB, Roache was the chair of the (CLASS) and also of the Yorkshire and Humber Trades Union Congress.[3] Some reports suggested he was supportive of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party and had criticised the 2015 Labour manifesto drawn up under Ed Miliband,[12] though other reports state he was not an enthusiastic backer, or a critic, of Corbyn.[8][9] Roache did not back the 2016 challenge to Corbyn's leadership, saying "This is about democracy and respecting the Labour Party’s democratic process. Jeremy has a strong mandate, and it’s hugely disappointing that this is not being respected".[13]

In his spare time, Roache supports Arsenal F.C. and coaches his son's local football team, Kippax Juniors. He is also a father and a husband.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Roache, Tim (12 December 2015). "Leading From The Front". Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Tim Roache elected new head of GMB". BBC News. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  3. ^ a b "GMB: Campaigner Roache Aims For The Top Job". Morning Star. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  4. ^ Private Eye. London: Pressdram Ltd. 5 August 2016. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "Tim Roache re-elected as GMB general secretary with 61% of vote". LabourList. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  6. ^ Heffer, Greg (28 April 2020). "GMB Union boss Tim Roache quits role due to 'ill health' - less than six months after re-election". Sky News. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  7. ^ Watson, Iain (29 April 2020). "Allegations investigated by GMB union as boss Tim Roache resigns". BBC News Online. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  8. ^ a b Pickard, Jim (28 April 2020). "GMB chief Tim Roache resigns abruptly". Financial Times. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  9. ^ a b Rajeev Syal; Heather Stewart (29 April 2020). "GMB union launch inquiry into claims against Tim Roache". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  10. ^ Heffer, Greg (29 April 2020). "GMB Union boss Tim Roache who quit due to ill health now being investigated over his conduct". Sky News. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  11. ^ Jones, Alan (2 September 2020). "GMB union urged to change its culture to end bullying and sexual harassment". Belfast Telegraph. Press Association. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  12. ^ Simons, Ned (29 September 2015). "Union Official Tim Roache Slams 'Bullsh**t' Labour 2015 Manifesto, Tells Mandelson He Isn't Wanted". Huffington Post. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  13. ^ Staunton, Denis (27 June 2016). "Brexit: MPs to vote on motion of no confidence in Corbyn". Irish Times. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
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