United Kingdom: Sharon Graham, first woman to head Unite
Sharon Graham, for example, took part in recent labor disputes at British Airways and she campaigned to impose her unions at Amazon (illustrative image).
MANJUNATH KIRAN AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
In the UK, Unite, one of Britain's strongest unions, has elected a woman as its head for the first time.
Sharon Graham won against two male candidates.
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With our correspondent in London,
Chloé Goudenhooft
Sharon Graham started working as a waitress at the age of 16.
A year later, she organized her first strike to defend the cause of temporary workers.
Born in London, the young girl then became aware of the strength of the collective and the role of unions in improving living conditions.
She becomes a member of the management of Unite and develops the department which specializes in the care of hostile employers.
It fights in particular against the illegal closures and the reinstatement of union delegates dismissed and blacklisted.
Priority to workers
Sharon Graham sharpens her negotiating skills with the largest employers in Ireland and Great Britain.
For example, she took part in recent labor disputes at British Airways and she campaigned to impose her unions at Amazon.
Described as an outsider by the British press, the fiftieth birthday was able to convince the members of
Unite
by claiming to want to give priority to workers and not to Westminster.
While she promises less interference in the Labor Party, which is partly funded by the union, she has warned leader
Keir Starmer
not to expect a blank check from her.
1/5 - I am honored to have been elected as General Secretary of @unitetheunion by our members, and I understand that the trust that they have placed in me brings with it tremendous responsibility.
- Sharon Graham (@UniteSharon) August 25, 2021
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