New Northern TUC regional secretary appointed

date: 18 June 2013

embargo: For immediate release

Beth Farhat has today (Tuesday) been appointed as the new regional secretary for the Northern TUC and takes over from Kevin Rowan, who became part of the TUC's senior management team in April.

Beth, 33, will be based in the Northern TUC's Newcastle office, and will be the TUC's senior representative across the North East and Cumbria.

Beth began her journey in the world of work through an apprenticeship programme with the North East Chamber of Commerce in 1997. She then held a variety of different jobs in the retail sector and as a call centre operator. Beth first joined a union, aged 20, when she worked at Norwich Union. She was an Amicus-msf union rep and activist.

On joining the TUC in 2003, Beth helped set up the Northern TUC Young Members Network, which worked closely with unions in the region. It become a thriving regional network of union members under the age of 30, delivering frequent sessions in local schools to teach youngsters about the benefits of union membership.

Beth's first role at the Northern TUC was as a finance administrator, but within six months she had been promoted to a project worker, helping unions to recruit new members in workplaces as a result of lifelong learning projects.

In 2006 Beth became a regional development worker, managing the Learning for All Fund, and four years later she became the regional development co-ordinator for unionlearn - the TUC's learning and skills arm - in the Northern region.

Commenting on her appointment Beth Farhat said: 'Now is a particularly challenging time for unions in the North East. The region has been hit especially hard by huge job losses, with over 50,000 jobs disappearing in the public sector alone.

'Families in the region are suffering dreadfully from a massive squeeze in their living standards. In parts of the North East, household income is down £4,000 as a result of falling real wages. Many people who have been made redundant, if they are fortunate enough to find a job again, can only get work on much lower rates of pay.

'I am proud of my background and the North East. I am personally driven and aspire to be in a position to affect change and make a difference. I will strive to give working people, their families and their communities a voice in these difficult times and will relish being part of a leadership team that wants to shape a future that works.'

Commenting on his successor, Kevin Rowan, Head of the TUC's Organisation and Services Department said: 'In Beth the Northern TUC has a new regional secretary who is steeped in trade unionism - having been a union representative from a young age - and someone who has benefited from a range of employment experiences and valuable, practical engagement with young workers in the region.

'Beth is someone who understands the immediate economic and social challenges in the region, is deeply rooted in the real experiences of living and working in the North East and Cumbria, and someone who will be a strong advocate for the region as well as an excellent champion for unions.'

Beth lives in Newcastle with her husband and three young children.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- A hi-res of image of Beth is available from the press office.

- The TUC's campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the Northern TUC on Twitter: @northerntuc

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk