Tony Woodley

Infobox Person
name = Tony Woodley


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birth_date = 2 January 1948
birth_place = Wallasey, UK
death_date =
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other_names =
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occupation = Trade union leader

Anthony Woodley (born Wallasey 2 January 1948) is a British Trade Union leader who is joint general secretary of Unite the Union, which was formed through the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU or T&G) in 2007.

Early life

He was born and educated at a secondary modern school on the Wirral. At the age of 15 he was taken on by the Ocean Steam Ship Company and worked as a steward for four years. In 1967 he started working for Vauxhall Motors at Ellesmere Port (Hooton Park)where he joined the TGWU.

Trade unions

In 1980, he was elected union convenor. His father George had also been a union convenor at the plant for the National Union of Vehicle Builders.

He was appointed as a full-time district official of the T&G in 1989, became National Officer of the Vehicle Building and Automotive Group, and then elected as T&G deputy general secretary in 2002.

T & G leadership

He came to prominence in June 2003 when he was elected to succeed Bill Morris as General Secretary of the TGWU. He is a member of the so-called "Awkward Squad" of trade union leaders opposed to New Labour policies that they perceive to be against the interests of working people.

On 30 May 2003 he was elected by the membership to be general secretary of the T & G. He received 66,958 votes: 21,822 more than the second-placed candidate, Jack Dromey, who was widely perceived as the Blairite candidate. He took up the position in October 2003.

After his election he said in an interview with "The Independent" newspaper :

:"A priority for stronger unions in the workplace must be a repeal of the anti-union laws ... British employment laws make it easier and cheaper to sack workers than on the Continent. I will campaign to stop the scandal of British workers being the cannon fodder of Europe."

Personal life

Tony is also the President of Football Conference North side Vauxhall Motors F.C.. He lives in Ellesmere Port. He married Janet Timmis and they have a son (born September 1990).

External links

* [http://www.tonywoodley.com His website]
* [http://www.tgwu.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=89668 TGWU biography]

Video clips

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyw9Rui89pI Greedy oil companies in 2008]

News items

* [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/support_services/article4698933.ece "Times" article September 2008]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2000/jul/02/rover.theobserver1 "Observer" article July 2000]