Ged Nichols is the General Secretary of Accord – the independent trade union which is exclusively devoted to employees of the Halifax and Bank of Scotland Group (HBOS).

The union has 30,000 members in HBOS – 70% are women and a third of the women members work part-time.

Biography

Ged was elected in September to his fifth term on the TUC’s governing General Council and is a past chair of the TUC’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Committee.

He was first elected as General Secretary of the then Halifax Staff Association in 1992. His mission was to transform the Staff Association into a vibrant and independent trade union. This led to a change of name firstly to the Independent Union of Halifax Staff and, following the merger between the Halifax and the Bank of Scotland, to Accord.

Under his leadership the Union has maintained consistent campaigns for security of employment, fair reward, dignity at work and equality from its Headquarters in Reading, Berkshire.

The Union has recently signed a new Partnership Agreement with HBOS and Unite which aims to transform industrial relations in HBOS.

Ged's passion for trade unionism is only matched by his commitments to his four daughters and to Everton Football Club.

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