Steve Gillan becomes the new TUC President

POA General Secretary Steve Gillan has today (Wednesday) become the new TUC President, taking over in the role from Nautilus General Secretary Mark Dickinson.  

He will preside over the TUC Congress in September 2026 and chair the TUC’s General Council and Executive Committee.   

A lifelong trade unionist

Steve has been a trade unionist all his working life. At the age of 16 years Steve joined Nat West Bank and became a shop steward within 6 months in the Banking Insurance Finance Union (BIFU). He was active in strike action in 1980 that led to a substantial pay increase.  

He started working in the prison sector in 1990, when he also became a POA official.  

Since then, he has held a number of positions at the union, leaving the prison service in 2010 to become the POA General Secretary. He’s now in his fourth term in office. 

Promoting safety and fairness at work has always been a priority for Steve, as well as raising the profile of the POA membership in the difficult work that prison officers undertake daily. 

Steve is a member of the General Council and the Executive Committee of the TUC, as well as a TUC Trustee.  

Outside of work Steve is a season ticket holder at Celtic attending most home games.  He also enjoys spending his time with his wife, children and grandchildren. 

On becoming President of TUC Steve Gillan said: 

“It is a true honour to be elected TUC President, and I wish to thank all my fellow General Council members for placing their trust in me.  

“I am very proud of this historic moment for the POA as I am the first General Secretary of the union to become the President of the TUC since the POA was founded in 1939. 

“Over the next year of my Presidency I want trade unions collectively to unite and focus on strengthening the new deal for workers up and down the country.  

“We need to eradicate racism from the workplace and society and have an economy that works for working people.  

“Workers need well paid jobs with protections at work through employment legislation. The country needs decent affordable housing. A society that cares about our children raising them out of poverty. A country that cares about our elderly with decent pensions and a country that provides welfare for those in their time of need.  

“The trade union movement must deliver and push government to deliver so that we live in a country where no one gets left behind. It is also our duty to speak out about hate and those who seek to divide communities.” 

Commenting on the appointment of Steve Gillan, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:  

“We welcome Steve as our President for the next year. He is an incredibly passionate and effective trade unionist, and a formidable advocate for POA members.   

“Steve takes on the role of President at a pivotal time for workers. I’m excited to be working with him to get the historic Employment Rights Bill on to the statue book in full, and secure stronger rights at work for millions across the country.”