Barbara Plant

Barbara Plant was elected as GMB National President in 2018 and re-elected in 2021.

Prior to being active in the union, Barbara was a Teaching Assistant in a South London primary school. When the Headteacher tried to change job descriptions, Barbara became the voice of support staff. Barbara then went on to become the GMB rep in that school from 2002, and in 2009 was seconded to her branch as the Education Convenor for the Local Authority.

Barbara has always championed the role of school support staff, wanting them to be recognised and properly rewarded for the work they do. She represented the GMB on the School Support Staff Negotiating Body when it was set up by the Labour Government in 2009 and chaired the National GMB School Support Staff Committee for 4 years.

As somebody who believes in lifelong learning, Barbara gained a MA in International Labour and Trade Union Studies in 2012 from Ruskin College.

Barbara has always been involved in the democracy of her union, sitting on the Southern Regional Equality Forum, Regional Council and CEC before her election to President. She has always highlighted the issue of under representation of equality strands in the union structures.

*Barbara is also part of the TUC Executive Committee.