Jordan gets global union post
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.BILL JORDAN, the most prominent right-wing trade unionist in Britain, is to resign as pounds 35,000-a-year president of the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union to take up an international post, writes Barrie Clement.
Mr Jordan has been nominated by British unions to become the pounds 67,000-a-year leader of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, which claims 120 million affiliated members and is effectively the world's TUC. The AEEU president will have to go through an election process, but it is regarded as a formality because he has secured a majority of nominations from member countries. He will start as acting general secretary and be confirmed at the ICFTU congress in 1996.
Mr Jordan, AEEU president since 1986, has been one of the leading backers of Tony Blair in the union movement. His departure will leave the way for a charismatic left-winger, Jimmy Airlie, to stand for the AEEU presidency. Mr Airlie, one of the leaders of the 'work-in' at the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders in the 1960s, is a former Communist.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments