{{Short description|British trade unionist (born 1968)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use British English|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Sharon Graham | image = Unite's Sharon Graham in 2024.jpg | caption = Sharon Graham in 2024 | office = General Secretary of Unite the Union | term_start = 26 August 2021 | term_end = | predecessor = Len McCluskey | successor = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|3 December 1968|df=y}} | birth_place = London, England | death_date = | death_place = | party = Labour | occupation = Trade unionist | spouse = Jack Clarke | children = 1 | website = {{URL|https://sharongraham.org/}} }} '''Sharon Mairead Graham''' (born 3 December 1968<ref>{{cite web |title=Graham, Sharon Mairead |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U296301 |website=Who's Who |publisher=Oxford University Press }}</ref>) is a British trade unionist who has been the general secretary of Unite since 26 August 2021. She is the first woman to hold the position. She previously served as the union's executive officer and as head of its organising and leverage department.
==Early life== Graham was born in Hammersmith in 1968.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sharon Graham announced as Unite's new general secretary|url=https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2021/august/sharon-graham-announced-as-unites-new-general-secretary/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.unitetheunion.org|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825124338/https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2021/august/sharon-graham-announced-as-unites-new-general-secretary/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/unite-general-secretary-candidate-says-24587681|title=Unite general secretary candidate says Scottish members will decide independence stance|journal=Daily Record|first=Paul|last=Hutcheon|date=22 July 2021|access-date=24 August 2021|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825021440/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/unite-general-secretary-candidate-says-24587681|url-status=live}}</ref> She is one of four children to a father from Newcastle upon Tyne and a mother from Abbeyfeale, County Limerick.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/628564/union-election-candidates-limerick-connections.html|title=Union election candidate's Limerick connections|journal=Limerick Leader|first=Nick|last=Rabbitts|date=28 April 2021|access-date=24 August 2021|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825024828/https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/628564/union-election-candidates-limerick-connections.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2021-08-25|title=New Unite boss Sharon Graham: doing what it says on the union tin|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/25/new-unite-boss-sharon-graham-doing-what-says-union-tin|access-date=2021-08-25|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825150524/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/25/new-unite-boss-sharon-graham-doing-what-says-union-tin|url-status=live}}</ref> She went to the Sacred Heart High School in Hammersmith.<ref name=bbcr4-20210904>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000zcky |title=Sharon Graham |series=Profile |last=Stourton |first=Edward |publisher=BBC Radio 4 |date=4 September 2021 |access-date=16 September 2021}}</ref>
She left school and began work as a silver service waitress at 16, and led her first walkout at 17 in defence of the rights of casual workers.<ref name=bbcr4-20210904/><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/unite-candidate-sharon-graham-women-covid-pandemic-b950539.html|title='I'll fight for women 'cut out' of promotions post-pandemic', says Unite candidate Sharon Graham|journal=Evening Standard|first=Sophia|last=Sleigh|date=13 August 2021|access-date=24 August 2021|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825030345/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/unite-candidate-sharon-graham-women-covid-pandemic-b950539.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The strike was successful and won her colleagues equal pay. Graham initially intended to go into journalism and she worked for an estate agent.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2000/mar/11/jobsadvice.madeleinebunting|title=Top rung/Bottom Rung|journal=The Guardian|date=10 March 2000|access-date=24 August 2021|archive-date=9 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509032520/http://www.theguardian.com/money/2000/mar/11/jobsadvice.madeleinebunting|url-status=live}}</ref> When she was 27, she studied at the Trades Union Congress's Organising Academy.<ref name=":3"/>
==Career==
===Union official=== Graham began working{{when|date=July 2022}} as a national youth and development officer for the Transport and General Workers' Union,<ref name=":5"/> which later became Unite the Union in a merger.<ref name=":3" /> In 2016, she was working as Unite's director of organising.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-08-24|title=Sharon Graham 'confident' of becoming next Unite leader|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/24/sharon-graham-confident-of-becoming-next-unite-leader|access-date=2021-08-25|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825070843/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/aug/24/sharon-graham-confident-of-becoming-next-unite-leader|url-status=live}}</ref> She was considered a potential candidate in the union's 2017 general secretary election, which had been prompted by Len McCluskey's early resignation to seek a new mandate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What are Len McCluskey's chances of re-election at Unite?|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/elections/2016/12/what-are-len-mccluskeys-chances-re-election-unite|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.newstatesman.com|date=6 December 2016|language=en|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108131714/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/elections/2016/12/what-are-len-mccluskeys-chances-re-election-unite|url-status=live}}</ref> She ran the union's organising and leverage department, running twelve successful leverage campaigns, which involves taking action beyond the immediate management to company directors, shareholders, investors and suppliers.<ref name=economist-20210828>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2021/08/28/sharon-graham-unites-new-leader-plots-a-radical-overhaul |title=Sharon Graham, Unite's new leader, plots a radical overhaul |magazine=The Economist |url-access=limited |date=28 August 2021 |access-date=16 September 2021 |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913220602/https://www.economist.com/britain/2021/08/28/sharon-graham-unites-new-leader-plots-a-radical-overhaul |url-status=live }}</ref>
She led the union's response to British Airways (BA) attempt to fire and rehire staff on worse contracts in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BA workers stage demo in Fareham to highlight company's 'brutal' job cuts|url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/business/ba-workers-stage-demo-fareham-highlight-companys-brutal-job-cuts-2946017|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.portsmouth.co.uk|language=en|archive-date=28 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928090719/https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/business/ba-workers-stage-demo-fareham-highlight-companys-brutal-job-cuts-2946017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-08-25|title=Unite union elects Sharon Graham as first woman leader|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-58331178|access-date=2021-08-25|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825163809/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-58331178|url-status=live}}</ref> She said that the airline should be stripped of its privileges at Heathrow Airport due to the way it had treated its staff, and that if the behaviour went unchecked then more companies would act in a similar way.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Protesters pack Shoreham town centre to oppose British Airways redundancies|url=https://www.worthingherald.co.uk/news/politics/protesters-pack-shoreham-town-centre-oppose-british-airways-redundancies-2935556|first=John|last= Holden|date=7 August 2020|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.worthingherald.co.uk|language=en|archive-date=10 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810001220/https://www.worthingherald.co.uk/news/politics/protesters-pack-shoreham-town-centre-oppose-british-airways-redundancies-2935556|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Young|first=Sarah|date=2020-06-26|title=In battle against British Airways, trade union goes to investors|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-british-airways-idUKKBN23X0XH|access-date=2021-08-25|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825163808/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-british-airways-idUKKBN23X0XH|url-status=live}}</ref> More than 280 Members of Parliament pledged to support a review of BA's privileged access to take-off and landing slots at airports.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gidden|first=Alex|date=2020-09-04|title=BA Betrayal protest heads to Witham Town Hall|url=https://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk/news/18695833.ba-betrayal-protest-heads-witham-town-hall/|url-status=live|website=Maldon Standard|access-date=25 August 2021|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825163811/https://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk/news/18695833.ba-betrayal-protest-heads-witham-town-hall/}}</ref> In her role as a union official, Graham also led Unite's campaign to unionise Amazon.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Country's most powerful trade union to have first ever woman general secretary|url=https://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/national/19536435.countrys-powerful-trade-union-first-ever-woman-general-secretary/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Wimbledon Times|date=25 August 2021|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825202555/https://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/national/19536435.countrys-powerful-trade-union-first-ever-woman-general-secretary/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2021, McCluskey announced his retirement as general secretary of Unite after ten years in the role.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Unite leadership race under way as union announces election to decide Len McCluskey's successor|url=https://news.sky.com/story/unite-leadership-race-under-way-as-union-announces-election-to-decide-len-mccluskeys-successor-12275648|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Sky News|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825163855/https://news.sky.com/story/unite-leadership-race-under-way-as-union-announces-election-to-decide-len-mccluskeys-successor-12275648|url-status=live}}</ref> The union's left-wing United Left faction held a hustings and ballot to determine a single candidate for the faction, which was won by the union's assistant general secretary Steve Turner. The other participant, Howard Beckett, continued as a candidate without the support of United Left. Graham, although also considered to be on the left wing of the union, ran in the election without seeking the faction's endorsement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rodgers|first=Sienna|title=Steve Turner wins United Left backing to succeed Len McCluskey|url=https://labourlist.org/2020/07/steve-turner-wins-united-left-backing-to-succeed-len-mccluskey/|access-date=2021-08-25|website=LabourList|date=18 July 2020 |language=en-GB|archive-date=11 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111103525/https://labourlist.org/2020/07/steve-turner-wins-united-left-backing-to-succeed-len-mccluskey/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=After McCluskey: who will win Unite's crown?|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/07/after-mccluskey-who-will-win-unite-s-crown|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.newstatesman.com|date=17 July 2020|language=en|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119055307/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/07/after-mccluskey-who-will-win-unite-s-crown|url-status=live}}</ref> She said she was "not a member of any Unite or Labour faction - other than my own supporters group".<ref name=":4" /> Her campaign was focused on redirecting attention towards workers' rights and workplaces instead of engaging with the internal politics of the Labour Party, of which Unite is an affiliated trade union.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-11-12|title=Can Starmer keep hold of his party machine?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54900942|access-date=2021-08-25|archive-date=19 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319024221/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54900942|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Unite: Leftwinger Sharon Graham on course to become union's first female leader, pulling off surprise victory|url=https://news.sky.com/story/unite-leftwinger-sharon-graham-on-course-to-become-unions-first-female-leader-pulling-off-surprise-victory-12389942|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Sky News|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825163809/https://news.sky.com/story/unite-leftwinger-sharon-graham-on-course-to-become-unions-first-female-leader-pulling-off-surprise-victory-12389942|url-status=live}}</ref> After the close of nominations, Beckett withdrew from the election and endorsed Turner.<ref name=":2" /> McCluskey also endorsed Turner, and members pressured Graham to withdraw and support Turner to prevent Gerard Coyne, a centrist candidate, from becoming general secretary.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Graham declined to do so, and received online abuse for her decision to remain a candidate.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-27|title=Female candidate to lead Unite union faced 'disgraceful abuse'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/27/female-candidate-to-lead-unite-union-faced-disgraceful-abuse|access-date=2021-08-25|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=22 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822152138/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/27/female-candidate-to-lead-unite-union-faced-disgraceful-abuse|url-status=live}}</ref> Her election campaign was supported by the Socialist Workers Party and the Socialist Party.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-24|title=Momentum congratulates hard-left candidate set to be next Unite leader|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-starmer-unite-union-graham-b1908122.html|access-date=2021-08-25|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825010309/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-starmer-unite-union-graham-b1908122.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
===General Secretary=== [[file:Sharon Graham BAKKAVOR.jpg|thumb|Graham (4th left) with members at international food product company Bakkavör in 2024]] Graham was elected the general secretary of Unite on 25 August 2021 with 46,696 votes, 37.7% of the votes cast, on a turnout of 10%,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/08/29/grah-a29.html |title= UK pseudo-left's political myth-making over Sharon Graham's election as Unite union general secretary |website=World Socialist Web Site |date=29 August 2021 |access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref> and took office on 26 August.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-25|title=Leftwing outsider Sharon Graham elected as Unite union leader|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/25/leftwing-outsider-sharon-graham-elected-as-unite-union-leader|access-date=2021-08-25|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825163810/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/aug/25/leftwing-outsider-sharon-graham-elected-as-unite-union-leader|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Grylls|first=George|title=Sharon Graham elected as Unite general secretary over Starmer favourite|newspaper=The Times|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/sharon-graham-elected-as-unite-general-secretary-over-starmer-favourite-cqmv7n5s8|access-date=2021-08-25|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825163812/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sharon-graham-elected-as-unite-general-secretary-over-starmer-favourite-cqmv7n5s8|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Sharon Graham becomes first female general secretary of Unite union|url=https://news.sky.com/story/sharon-graham-becomes-first-female-general-secretary-of-unite-union-12390225|access-date=2021-08-25|website=Sky News|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825163810/https://news.sky.com/story/sharon-graham-becomes-first-female-general-secretary-of-unite-union-12390225|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2021, she wrote in ''The Guardian'' that Unite should focus more on fighting "for jobs, pay and conditions" rather than "hoping for the election of a Labour government to solve our members' problems".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-12|first=Aubrey|last=Allegretti|title=Workers shouldn't wait for Labour victory, says Unite's Sharon Graham|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/sep/12/workers-shouldnt-wait-for-labour-victory-says-unites-sharon-graham|access-date=2021-09-13|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=13 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913143617/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/sep/12/workers-shouldnt-wait-for-labour-victory-says-unites-sharon-graham|url-status=live}}</ref> The same month, she warned Keir Starmer that he had "lost touch with reality" because of his plan to scrap the one-member-one-vote Labour Party leadership election rule.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wearmouth |first=Rachel |date=21 September 2021 |title=Unite boss warns Starmer he has 'lost touch with reality' with rules shake-up |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/unite-boss-warns-starmer-lost-25039947 |access-date= |website=Daily Mirror}}</ref> On 9 February 2022, following the controversial treatment of workers at Labour-led Coventry Council, she stated that all remaining Labour funding was "under review".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Nick |date=2022-02-09 |title=Unite boss threatens to pull all funding from Labour due to dispute over Coventry bin workers |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/unite-boss-threatens-pull-all-funding-labour-party-dispute-bin-workers-coventry-1452415 |access-date= |website=i |language=en}}</ref> Starmer said that the Labour Party would not be "influenced by threats".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-02-10 |title=Sir Keir Starmer: Labour will not be influenced by Unite union funding threats |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-60336606 |access-date=}}</ref> In 2023, Graham's confrontational approach to the Labour Party led to the ''New Statesman'' naming her as the eleventh most powerful left wing figure in the UK that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statesman |first=New |date=2023-05-17 |title=The New Statesman's left power list |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2023/05/the-new-statesmans-left-power-list |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}}</ref>
On 11 March 2026, the anniversary of the start of the Birmingham bin strike, Unite cut its annual donation to the Labour Party by £580,000, a decrease of 40% from its previous funding of £1.45 million which was the largest union donation to Labour. The Labour controlled Birmingham City Council had decided to remove Waste Recycling and Collection Officer posts, and a dispute had been on-going for a year.<ref name=bbc-20260311>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxg72nrw6vo |title=Union cuts Labour funding by 40% over bin strike |last1=Rack |first1=Susie |last2=Watson |first2=Iain |work=BBC News |date=11 March 2026 |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref> The union stated a resolution of the dispute has been formulated at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), but the Labour-run council had not agreed to it. Unite's criticism of Labour extended beyond the Birmingham dispute, with Graham saying "Unite members are coming to the end of the line as far as Labour is concerned. Workers are scratching their heads asking whose side are Labour on, who do they really represent, because it certainly isn’t workers." A periodic Unite rules conference will take place in 2027, which may consider whether the union should remain affiliated to the Labour Party.<ref name=guardian-20260311>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/11/unite-announces-cut-to-labour-membership-fees-by-more-than-half-a-million-poundsg |title=Unite announces cut to Labour membership fees by £580,000 |last=Quinn |first=Ben |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 March 2026 |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref><ref name=labourlist-20260311>{{cite news |url=https://labourlist.org/2026/03/unite-union-labour-affiliation-fee-cut/ |title='Be real Labour': Unite cuts Labour affiliation fee by 40% and hits out at government |last=Green |first=Daniel |website=LabourList |date=11 March 2026 |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Graham married Jack Clarke in 2005. They have a son and live in Hammersmith.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-08-25|title=Who is Sharon Graham, the Unite union's new leader?|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sharon-graham-unite-leader-labour-b1908531.html|last=Mathers|first=Matt|access-date=2021-08-25|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825210714/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sharon-graham-unite-leader-labour-b1908531.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/who-sharon-graham-left-wing-24837325|title=Who is Sharon Graham? The left-wing 'outsider' and first woman in powerful Unite job|first=Rachel|last=Wearmouth|date=25 August 2021|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=26 August 2021|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825202430/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/who-sharon-graham-left-wing-24837325|url-status=live}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Sharon}} Category:Living people Category:1968 births Category:Date of birth uncertain Category:English people of Irish descent Category:British women trade unionists Category:General secretaries of Unite the Union Category:Members of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress Category:People from Hammersmith Category:Trade unionists from London