Michael James Leahy OBE (born 7 January 1949) was the General Secretary of the British Trade Union Community.[1] Leahy was General Secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC) from 1999 until it merged with the National Union of Knitwear, Footwear & Apparel Trades (KFAT) in 2004 to form Community. He served as General Secretary until 2013.
Early life
editLeahy was born in Pontypool, Wales, in 1949.[2] He attended Twmpath Secondary Modern School.[3] Michael joined the ISTC in 1965 upon starting work as a Chargehand at Panteg Steel Works, where he was employed from 1965 to 1977.[citation needed]
He is married with two children.[citation needed]
Union career
editLeahy was employed as an organiser from 1977 to 1986, then as a senior organiser from 1986 to 1992.[citation needed] He was elected Assistant General Secretary of ISTC in 1993 and General Secretary in 1999.[4]
Leahy was President of the iron, steel and nonferrous metals sector of the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) and sat on the executive of European Metalworkers' Federation (EMF-FEM).[citation needed] He was a member of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) executive committee,[5] and was the President of the TUC for 2011.[6]
Middle East Peace Process
editLeahy is a co-founder of the Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine.
References
edit
- ^ Community Web site.
- ^ pg 1353 Who's Who, A & C Black, London 2008
- ^ pg 1353 Who's Who, A & C Black, London 2008
- ^ pg 244 Tempered not Quenched, Martin Upham, Lawrence & Wishart Ltd, London
- ^ TUC Directory 2008
- ^ New TUC President elected in Manchester, TUC, 19 September 2010
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