Ron Todd

This article is about the British trade union leader. For the Australian rules footballer, see Ron Todd (footballer).

Ron Todd
Born	Walthamstow, London
Occupation	Trade union leader

Ronald Todd (11 March 1927 – 30 April 2005), generally known as Ron Todd, was the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU), then the largest general trade union in the United Kingdom, from 1985 until 1992.

Todd was born in Walthamstow, London. His father was a stallholder in a local street market and Todd left school at the age of 14 to work in a barber's shop. He also worked as an assistant to a plumber before being conscripted into the Royal Marines in 1945. For a time he served alongside his father in the Marines and was posted to Hong Kong with 42 Commando.

After completing his national service, Todd returned to plumbing and then worked in the Ford factory in Dagenham, where he joined the TGWU. He became a shop steward in 1955 and then deputy convenor, before becoming a full-time district officer in 1962 as local officer of the TGWU's Metal, Engineering and Chemical Group. In 1969, he became the first group secretary of the Region One Vehicle Building and Automotive Trade Group. He became regional secretary for Region One (London, the Southeast and East Anglia) in 1975, before being promoted to national organiser in March 1978.

After being elected to succeed Moss Evans as the union's seventh general secretary in 1985, following a second ballot, he was also named as an honorary vice-president of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Todd earned a reputation for his commitment to human rights and was a vocal opponent of apartheid in South Africa. He was succeeded as general secretary by Bill Morris.

Ron Todd died of leukaemia, from which he had been suffering for some time.

External links

Catalogue of Todd's papers, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick

Trade union offices
Preceded by Moss Evans	General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union 1985–1992	Succeeded by Bill Morris

Transport and General Workers' Union

General Secretaries	1922: Ernest Bevin 1940: Arthur Deakin 1955: Jock Tiffin 1955: Frank Cousins 1969: Jack Jones 1978: Moss Evans 1985: Ron Todd 1992: Bill Morris 2004: Tony Woodley

Deputy General Secretaries	1974: Harry Urwin 1980: Alec Kitson 1986: Bill Morris 1992: Jack Adams 1999: Margaret Prosser 2002: Tony Woodley 2003: Jack Dromey

Assistant General Secretaries	1924: John Cliff 1935: Arthur Deakin 1940: Harold Clay 1948: Jock Tiffin 1955: Frank Cousins 1956: Harry Nicholas 1968: Harry Urwin 1974: Vacant 1985: Eddie Haigh and Larry Smith 1988: Eddie Haigh 1991: Vacant 1999: Ray Collins and Jimmy Elsby 2000: Ray Collins and Barry Camfield

Forerunners	Amalgamated Society of Watermen, Lightermen and Bargemen Amalgamated Carters, Lurrymen and Motormen's Union Amalgamated Association of Carters and Motormen Associated Horsemen's Union Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union Labour Protection League National Amalgamated Labourers' Union National Union of Docks, Wharves and Shipping Staffs National Union of Ships' Clerks, Grain Weighers and Coalmeters National Union of Vehicle Workers National Amalgamated Coal Workers' Union North of England Trimmers' and Teemers Association North of Scotland Horse and Motormen's Association United Vehicle Workers

Other topics	National Transport Workers' Federation Trades Union Congress Transport House Unite

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