Paul Kenny
Sir Paul Stephen Kenny (born 31 October 1949, Hammersmith) is the former General Secretary of the GMB, Britain's third biggest union.
Sir Paul Kenny | |
|---|---|
| 8th General Secretary of GMB | |
| In office 24 March 2005 – 31 December 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin Curran |
| Succeeded by | Tim Roache |
| President of the Trades Union Congress | |
| In office 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Michael J. Leahy |
| Succeeded by | Lesley Mercer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 October 1949 Hammersmith, London, England |
Early life
He left school at 15 and went to work for Fuller, Smith & Turner's Brewery.
His first job in local government was for London Borough of Hammersmith as the park keeper of Brook Green, along with its tennis courts.
Trade unions
He became a full-time GMB official in December 1979. In 1991 he became the Regional Secretary of the GMB London Region.
GMB leadership
Kenny had been defeated by Kevin Curran in the 2003 GMB General Secretary Election to replace John Edmonds. However, he was appointed Acting General Secretary on 24 March 2005 following Curran's resignation after alleged election rigging.
In May 2006 he was elected unopposed as GMB General Secretary.
Elected again in 2010 for a further 5 years unopposed.
Between 2010 and 2016 he was the chair of the influential Trade Union & Labour Party Liaison Organisation.
Campaigns
Campaigns Mr Kenny has been heavily involved include ASDA, private equity companies (such as their ownership of the AA), public sector pay increases, and privatised utility companies. Led target campaigning against Blacklisting of Trade unionists by Construction industry. In August 2014, Kenny was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.[1]
Personal life
Kenny now lives on the Isle of Wight. He married Patricia Ward in 1969 in Hammersmith. He has two sons and four grandchildren, and supports Fulham F.C..
In the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours, Kenny was appointed a Knight Bachelor 'for services to trades unions'. Sir Paul went to Latimer Foundation School in Hammersmith, which was closed; he was transferred to St Marks School at Bishops Park in Fulham.
References
- "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories | Politics". theguardian.com. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
External links
News items
| Trade union offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kevin Curran |
General Secretary of the GMB 2005–2015 |
Succeeded by Tim Roache |
| Preceded by Michael J. Leahy |
President of the Trades Union Congress 2012 |
Succeeded by Lesley Mercer |