John Macreadie
Encyclopedia
John Macreadie was a Scottish trade unionist and a longstanding supporter of the Militant tendency
.
in London, where he was also active within the Acton
Young Socialists. He joined the Civil and Public Services Association
and was appointed to a full time post within the union in 1970. In 1977 he led the successful CAA Air Traffic Control Assistants strike.
of the CPSA. In the elections, Macreadie initially won the ballot. However, the election was blocked and the courts ordered it to be re-run, with John Ellis receiving 42,000 votes, Macreadie receiving 31,000, and the Broad Left 84, backed by the Communist Party
gaining 13,000.
Macreadie was later elected as Deputy General Secretary of the union in 1987 and was named as one of a 'dirty half-dozen' by Ellis in an expose of the Militant-led left in the union.
officer, eventually taking up a position as advisor to Mark Serwotka
when he was elected as General Secretary in 2002. He retired from the PCS in 2005 and died of a brain tumour in France in December 2010, aged 64.
Militant Tendency
The Militant tendency was an entrist group within the British Labour Party based around the Militant newspaper that was first published in 1964...
.
Early life and career
Born in Glasgow, he left the city in his teens in the 60's to take up a job at the Ministry of TransportDepartment for Transport
In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the English transport network and a limited number of transport matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are not devolved...
in London, where he was also active within the Acton
Acton, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
Young Socialists. He joined the Civil and Public Services Association
Civil and Public Services Association
The Civil and Public Services Association was a trade union in the United Kingdom, representing civil servants.The union was founded in 1921, when the Civil Service Clerical Union and the Clerical Officers' Association merged to form the Civil Service Clerical Association. It affiliated with the...
and was appointed to a full time post within the union in 1970. In 1977 he led the successful CAA Air Traffic Control Assistants strike.
1986 General Secretary Election Controversy
In 1986, Macreadie stood for the post of General SecretaryGeneral Secretary
The office of general secretary is staffed by the chief officer of:*The General Secretariat for Macedonia and Thrace, a government agency for the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace...
of the CPSA. In the elections, Macreadie initially won the ballot. However, the election was blocked and the courts ordered it to be re-run, with John Ellis receiving 42,000 votes, Macreadie receiving 31,000, and the Broad Left 84, backed by the Communist Party
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
gaining 13,000.
Macreadie was later elected as Deputy General Secretary of the union in 1987 and was named as one of a 'dirty half-dozen' by Ellis in an expose of the Militant-led left in the union.
Later Career
After being unsuccessful in further senior union official elections, Macreadie continued as a national CPSA, then PCSPublic and Commercial Services Union
The Public and Commercial Services Union is the sixth largest trade union in the United Kingdom. Most of its members work in government departments and other public bodies although some work for private companies.- Membership and organisation :...
officer, eventually taking up a position as advisor to Mark Serwotka
Mark Serwotka
Mark Serwotka , is General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union , the trade union for British civil servants.-Early life:Born into a Catholic orphanage in Cardiff, Wales, he was adopted by a Polish British father and a Welsh mother....
when he was elected as General Secretary in 2002. He retired from the PCS in 2005 and died of a brain tumour in France in December 2010, aged 64.