Sir Brendan Paul Barber (born 3 April 1951) is a British trade union official. He served as chair of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) Council until 2020. He is a former general secretary of the United Kingdom's Trades Union Congress (TUC); a post he held from June 2003 until his retirement at the end of 2012. He was appointed Acas Chair in 2014, replacing Ed Sweeney, who had been in the post since 2007. He also serves on the board of the Banking Standards Board (2015–), the Board of Transport for London (2013–), the board of Britain Stronger in Europe (2015–), the Council of City University, London and the board of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (2014–).
Brendan Barber | |
|---|---|
 Barber speaking at the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival and Rally in 2012 | |
| Chair of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service | |
| In office 2014–2020 | |
| Minister | Vince Cable Sajid Javid Greg Clark Andrea Leadsom Alok Sharma Kwasi Kwarteng Jacob Rees-Mogg |
| Preceded by | Ed Sweeney |
| Succeeded by | Claire Chapman |
| 10th General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress | |
| In office 2003–2012 | |
| Preceded by | John Monks |
| Succeeded by | Frances O'Grady |
| Deputy General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress | |
| In office 1993–2003 | |
| Preceded by | John Monks |
| Succeeded by | Frances O'Grady |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 April 1951 Southport, England |
| Alma mater | City University London |
Early life
editBorn in Southport, Lancashire, Barber was educated at St Mary's College, Sefton (then a direct grant grammar school). Between school and university, he spent a year with VSO teaching in the Volta Region of Ghana. At City University London, he earned a BA hons in social sciences in 1974, then spent the next year as the president of the students' union.[1]
Career
editHe spent a year as a researcher for the Ceramics, Glass and Mineral Products Industry Training Board based in Harrow.[1]
TUC
editIn 1975. he began working at the TUC[2] as a policy officer. In 1979, he became the head of the TUC's Press and Information Department. In 1987, he became head of the Organisation and Industrial Relations Department and in 1993 he became deputy general secretary.[1]
He became General Secretary of the TUC in June 2003. On 18 April 2012, he announced his retirement, enabling a successor to be elected in September at Trades Union Congress 2012.[3] Frances O'Grady was elected his successor.[4]
Awards
editIn 2007, Barber was given an Award of Doctor of Science honoris causa by City University London. He was knighted in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to employment relations.[5][6]
Personal life
editHe met Mary Gray in the TUC International Dept, and they married. They have two daughters. He supports Everton F.C. and lives in Muswell Hill.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Biographical details: Brendan Barber". Trades Union Congress. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ^ Stevenson, Alexander (2013). The Public Sector: Managing The Unmanageable. Kogan Page. ISBN 978-0-7494-6777-7.
- ^ "Brendan Barber to retire as TUC General Secretary". Trades Union Congress. 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ^ Claire Bolderson (7 September 2012). "Profile: Frances O'Grady, the new TUC general secretary". BBC. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
- ^ "No. 60534". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2013. p. 1.
- ^ "Birthday Honours: Adele joins Blackadder stars on list". BBC News. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
External links
edit- TUC
- Guardian profile September 2003
- Bank of England Court of Directors
- Video on YouTube
- "Christmas spending 'will be tough'" 16 November 2011, Budget Planning News
