Changes in leadership in trade unions

The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) has appointed a new general secretary to replace Doug Nicholls, who is retiring after more than a decade in the post.


Gawain Little is a lifelong trade unionist from the NEU education union’s national executive. He has been a workplace rep since he started teaching 20 years ago, has also been a local secretary and is currently chair of the NEU International Committee. He takes over at the GFTU in May.


Meanwhile, Ian Lawrence will start a new term as general secretary of the Napo probation and family court staff union on 1 July after no other suitable candidates emerged from the union’s recruitment process.


And Professor Karen Middleton, chief executive of the CSP physiotherapists’ union, has said she will retire at the end of 2023. When she first became the CSP’s leader in February 2014, she was the first woman — and the first physiotherapist — to hold the post.


The union will start the process of recruiting a new chief executive in June, when Middleton will formally resign.