Unison elects new general secretary

The UK’s largest trade union, Unison, has elected Christina McAnea as its new general secretary, replacing Dave Prentis who is retiring after 20 years as general secretary.

McAnea is currently one of Unison’s five assistant general secretaries, and has worked at the union since its formation in 1993, having previously joined local government union, Nalgo, as women’s officer in the late 1980s.

She said her "immediate [priorities" would be, “supporting public service workers through the pandemic, securing an early pay rise for NHS staff and ensuring the government backs down on its plans for an ill-judged pay freeze.”

She has held senior positions across the union, negotiating on behalf of members working in police forces, schools, universities and colleges, and the NHS.

Unison has more than 1.3 million members in the public, voluntary and private sectors providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy.