Gary Smith

Gary Smith was elected General Secretary of GMB in June 2021. He has also recently taken on the role of Vice President at the Institute of Employment Rights in addition to being Chair of Action on Asbestos.

Gary Smith started out as a young members’ activist with GMB Scotland after starting work as an Apprentice Service Engineer for Scottish Gas aged 16. Gary was later involved in GMB Southern Region when working in the gas industry in South London. GMB gave Gary a bursary to attend Ruskin College and later Warwick University as a mature student. Gary has an MA Industrial Relations from Warwick University. In 1997 Gary started work for GMB as a Recruitment Officer in South London. Gary went on to be a fulltime Organiser in Brighton before becoming a Senior Officer based in Plymouth. In 2006 Gary returned to London as a National Officer before being appointed National Secretary for the Commercial Services Section.

Gary has dealt with most of the sections covered by GMB including Public Services, Shipbuilding & Repair, Aviation, Retail Distribution and Energy. In late 2015 Gary came home taking up the job as Scottish Secretary for GMB Scotland.

Gary was confirmed in post as Regional Secretary for GMB Scotland in February 2016.