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The GMB is a general trade union in the United Kingdom, and has more than 600,000 members. The GMB originates from a merger of four smaller trade unions in 1924, named the National Union of General and Municipal Workers. After many more mergers, it became known as the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union in 1982, from the initials of which its present name is derived.
Its members are drawn from many sectors, with particular strength amongst manual workers in local government and the health service. There are organised GMB branches at 34 of Britain's 50 largest companies.
The union is affiliated to the Labour Party. It is led by a general secretary. In 2005, Paul Kenny was appointed the acting general secretary, in place of Kevin Curran who stepped down after being suspended on full pay during an inquiry into alleged ballot-rigging during the union's leadership election. The episode was seen as a power struggle between the national office and powerful regional heads, led by Kenny, who opposed centralisation. Kenny had lost the 2003 vote to Curran. In May 2006, Kenny was elected unopposed as general secretary
List of general secretaries of the GMB
- 1924–1934 Will Thorne
- 1934–1946 Charles Dukes
- 1946–1961 Tom Williamson
- 1962–1973 Jack Cooper
- 1973–1985 David Basnett
- 1986–2003 John Edmonds
- 2003–2004 Kevin Curran
- 2005- present Paul Kenny (acting until fully elected in May 2006)
External links
See also
"GMB Union"