TUC Cymru’s new General Secretary will be the current NAHT National Secretary for Wales, and TUC Cymru President, Laura Doel.
Laura will replace Shavannah Taj, who was elected to the Senedd following May’s election.
A passionate trade unionist and education campaigner, Laura started her career in journalism, working at several newspapers before moving into politics.
A stint in local government reignited a love of social activism and campaigning which turned into a career in the trade union movement. Laura began that career as an organiser for Unison, then an organiser for NAHT Cymru before becoming their National Secretary six years ago.
In her role as National Secretary Laura held a number of key roles including NAHT Cymru’s seat on Wales TUC General Council, as well as a number of key Welsh Government union positions under social partnership legislation including the National Attendance Task Force, the Pay Partnership Forum, the workload negotiating groups and Schools Social Partnership Forum.
Born and brought up in Aberbeeg, near Abertillery, she now lives in Roath, Cardiff with her two daughters. She attended Abertillery Comprehensive School before going to college in Ebbw Vale and Pontypool. Laura comes from a long line of trade unionists. She is proudly the first female trade union official in her family following in the footsteps of her dad, grandfathers, and wider family who all worked in manufacturing, local collieries, steelworks, and local government.
Laura Doel, Incoming General Secretary of TUC Cymru, said:
“I am honoured to be appointed to the role of TUC Cymru General Secretary, and I look forward to representing Wales’s nearly 400,000 trade unionists as we work together to build a Wales that works for everyone.
“I believe that Trade Unions have never been more important. Wales is experiencing a moment of significant change, with a new government in place, continued pressures on pay-packets, and a world of work that is transformed compared to what has come before.
“The workers of Wales need to know that there is someone on their side and I look forward to taking up that challenge in the coming weeks.”
