British trade unionist Guy Ryder elected head of UN workplace rights body

date: 28 May 2012

embargo: For immediate release

Guy Ryder CBE, the founding General Secretary of the 175-million strong International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), was elected to be the next Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva today (Tuesday).

The ILO is part of the UN, responsible for workplace issues, and is the only part of the organisation not run by governments alone.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'Guy Ryder will be a formidable advocate for workers' rights and for a mature system of industrial relations around the world.

'He will bring governments, employers and unions together to promote dignity and respect at work, and help get the world economy growing again by promoting decent work and more and better jobs.'

Guy Ryder is currently Director of Standards at the ILO and succeeds Chilean diplomat Juan Somavia. Guy, who started his working life in the TUC International Department, is the first trade unionist elected as Director-General since the ILO was founded in 1919.

Backed by the TUC and the UK government, he won after six rounds of voting among members of the ILO Governing Body which consists of 14 trade unionists, 14 employers' representatives and 28 governments.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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

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
Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk