Michael Leahy (trade unionist)

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

Leahy 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.

He is married with two children.

Union career

Leahy was employed as an organiser from 1977 to 1986, then as a senior organiser from 1986 to 1992. 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). 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

Leahy is a co-founder of the Trade Unions Linking Israel and Palestine.

References
  1. Community Web site.
  2. pg 1353 Who's Who, A & C Black, London 2008
  3. pg 1353 Who's Who, A & C Black, London 2008
  4. pg 244 Tempered not Quenched, Martin Upham, Lawrence & Wishart Ltd, London
  5. TUC Directory 2008
  6. New TUC President elected in Manchester, TUC, 19 September 2010
Trade union offices
Preceded by
Keith Brookman		 Assistant General Secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation
1993–1999		 Succeeded by
Eddie Lynch
Preceded by
Keith Brookman		 General Secretary of the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation
1999–2004		 Succeeded by
Position abolished
Preceded by
New position		 General Secretary of Community
2004–2013		 Succeeded by
Roy Rickhuss
Preceded by
Dougie Rooney		 President of the Trades Union Congress
2011–2012		 Succeeded by
Paul Kenny


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