Paul Mackney
Encyclopedia
Paul Mackney is a British
educator
and trade union
leader. From 1997 to 2006, he was General Secretary
of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education
(NATFHE). NATFHE merged with the Association of University Teachers
(AUT) in 2006 to form the University and College Union
, at which time Mackney was elected Joint General Secretary (serving alongside Sally Hunt
). He retired from union service in May 2007. He now works part-time as an Associate Director of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE
).
vicar
in the Church of England
and his mother was a Christian Socialist. His parents deeply impressed the importance of racial equality and social justice on him as a child. Mackney attended Christ's Hospital
boarding school. He trained briefly to become a probation officer, but ended up graduating with a bachelor's degree
in politics from the University of Exeter
. During his time in college, he joined the International Socialists and became active in campaigns to strengthen the rights of the unemployed and those on public assistance. Later expelled from the International Socialists, he joined the Workers' League
before becoming a member of the Labour Party
.
Mackney taught English in Hamburg, Germany, before returning England. He was a part-time lecturer in social studies
at Poole Technical College
in Poole
, Dorset
(where he joined NATFHE), before taking a similar position at Hall Green Technical College
in Birmingham
in 1975. From 1975 to 1992, Mackney taught about trade union issues in further education
.
Mackney received a master's degree
in industrial relations from University of Warwick
in 1986. His dissertation topic was the 1984-1985 miners' strike.
in the late 1970s, eventually becoming Vice-President and President. He pushed for establishment of the Birmingham Trade Union Resource Centre, and from 1986 to 1992 was Head of the institute.
Mackney was appointed a Regional Official for NATFHE in the West Midlands
in 1992, and elected General Secretary of the union in 1997. Mackney discovered the union was nearly £1 million in debt, the executive board as deeply splintered, the staff morale low, and the organization drifting. He slashed costs and laid off staff, but also won the loyalty of the board and staff for his vision and leadership. He reinvigorated the 67,000-member trade union to such an extent that he was re-elected to an unprecedented second term in 2002.
Mackney worked to improve the effectiveness and strength of NATFHE by seeking a merger of the trade union with the Association of University Teachers. Merger of the two unions occurred in 2006. Mackney was elected Joint General Secretary along with AUT leader Sally Hunt. The new trade union represented about 120,000 academics and academic-related staff in further and higher education throughout the United Kingdom.
Mackney suffered a severe heart attack in 2005. After an extensive recovery, he declined to run for the position of General Secretary of the UCU and retired from active union life. He now works as an Associate Director of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, allowing him to maintain an active commitment to many of his interests but in a less presurised role.
Mackney has been involved in larger trade union issues as well. In 1999, Trades Union Congress
(TUC) General Secretary Stephen Lawrence
appointed him to his first Task Group. In September 2002, Mackney became the first NATFHE General Secretary ever elected to the TUC General Council. Mackney became a founding member of a caucus on the TUC General Council known as "Fed Up With Losing." The caucus, which included Billy Hayes
, Jeremy Dear
, Mick Rix
, Mark Serwotka
, and Bob Crow
among others, argued for a much more aggressive and militant labour movement which would push the Labour Party in a more leftist direction and begin to challenge the lingering effects of Thatcherism
. The media began calling the group the Awkward Squad
.
and fascism
. He has been involved in anti-racism activities since his youth. As a trade union leader, he pushed for establishment of the Commission for Black Staff in Further Education and has attacked discrimination against staff and faculty as well as societal racism which prevents students from obtaining jobs upon graduation. Mackney has also vocally opposed the British National Party
and other organized and unorganized forms of fascism in British society.
He is also a strong supporter of Palestinian independence
. However, in 2006, Mackney opposed a NATFHE resolution supporting a boycott of Israeli institutions of higher education.
Mackney was also an early and strong opponent of the Iraq War. He has spoken out angrily about British involvement in the war, and condemned the government for its continued involvement in the continuing military occupation of Iraq.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
educator
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader. From 1997 to 2006, he was General Secretary
General Secretary
The office of general secretary is staffed by the chief officer of:*The General Secretariat for Macedonia and Thrace, a government agency for the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace...
of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education
National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education
The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education was the British trade union and professional association for people working with those above statutory school age, and primarily concerned with providing education, training or research...
(NATFHE). NATFHE merged with the Association of University Teachers
Association of University Teachers
The Association of University Teachers was the trade union and professional association that represented academic and academic-related staff at pre-1992 universities in the United Kingdom...
(AUT) in 2006 to form the University and College Union
University and College Union
The University and College Union is a British trade union formed by the merger in 2006 of the Association of University Teachers and the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education ....
, at which time Mackney was elected Joint General Secretary (serving alongside Sally Hunt
Sally Hunt
Sally Hunt is the General Secretary of the University and College Union . Prior to the UCU coming into existence on June 1, 2006, she was the last General Secretary of the Association of University Teachers , having held that post since 2002...
). He retired from union service in May 2007. He now works part-time as an Associate Director of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE
NIACE
The NIACE is an educational charity in England and Wales, with headquarters in Leicester and Cardiff plus a subsidiary offices in London. The organisation is dedicated to promoting adult learning and was founded in 1921...
).
Early life
Mackney's father was an evangelicalEvangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and his mother was a Christian Socialist. His parents deeply impressed the importance of racial equality and social justice on him as a child. Mackney attended Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
boarding school. He trained briefly to become a probation officer, but ended up graduating with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in politics from the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
. During his time in college, he joined the International Socialists and became active in campaigns to strengthen the rights of the unemployed and those on public assistance. Later expelled from the International Socialists, he joined the Workers' League
Workers League (UK)
The Workers League was a small Trotskyist group in Britain.It began as the IS Opposition, formed in 1975 within the International Socialists , and containing many prominent IS members, including Roger Protz and Jim Higgins...
before becoming a member of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
.
Mackney taught English in Hamburg, Germany, before returning England. He was a part-time lecturer in social studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
at Poole Technical College
Bournemouth and Poole College
The Bournemouth and Poole College is a further education establishment based in Bournemouth and Poole on the south coast of England. It is one of the larger UK colleges catering for an average of 24,000 learners each year, and it is a member of the 157 Group of high performing schools.- Courses...
in Poole
Poole
Poole is a large coastal town and seaport in the county of Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester, and Bournemouth adjoins Poole to the east. The Borough of Poole was made a unitary authority in 1997, gaining administrative independence from Dorset County Council...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
(where he joined NATFHE), before taking a similar position at Hall Green Technical College
South Birmingham College
South Birmingham College is an establishment of further education in Birmingham, England providing full-time and part-time courses for young students following their period of compulsory education and for adults...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1975. From 1975 to 1992, Mackney taught about trade union issues in further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
.
Mackney received a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in industrial relations from University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
in 1986. His dissertation topic was the 1984-1985 miners' strike.
Union career
Mackney was elected as the NATFHE representative to the Birmingham Trades CouncilBirmingham Trades Council
Birmingham Trades Council is the trades council body which brings together trade unionists from across Birmingham, England. Its headquarters were formerly in Digbeth, with a huge mural above the canteen area depicting the 1972 Battle of Saltley Gate....
in the late 1970s, eventually becoming Vice-President and President. He pushed for establishment of the Birmingham Trade Union Resource Centre, and from 1986 to 1992 was Head of the institute.
Mackney was appointed a Regional Official for NATFHE in the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
in 1992, and elected General Secretary of the union in 1997. Mackney discovered the union was nearly £1 million in debt, the executive board as deeply splintered, the staff morale low, and the organization drifting. He slashed costs and laid off staff, but also won the loyalty of the board and staff for his vision and leadership. He reinvigorated the 67,000-member trade union to such an extent that he was re-elected to an unprecedented second term in 2002.
Mackney worked to improve the effectiveness and strength of NATFHE by seeking a merger of the trade union with the Association of University Teachers. Merger of the two unions occurred in 2006. Mackney was elected Joint General Secretary along with AUT leader Sally Hunt. The new trade union represented about 120,000 academics and academic-related staff in further and higher education throughout the United Kingdom.
Mackney suffered a severe heart attack in 2005. After an extensive recovery, he declined to run for the position of General Secretary of the UCU and retired from active union life. He now works as an Associate Director of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, allowing him to maintain an active commitment to many of his interests but in a less presurised role.
Mackney has been involved in larger trade union issues as well. In 1999, Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
(TUC) General Secretary Stephen Lawrence
Stephen Lawrence
Stephen Lawrence was a black British teenager from Eltham, southeast London, who was stabbed to death while waiting for a bus on the evening of 22 April 1993....
appointed him to his first Task Group. In September 2002, Mackney became the first NATFHE General Secretary ever elected to the TUC General Council. Mackney became a founding member of a caucus on the TUC General Council known as "Fed Up With Losing." The caucus, which included Billy Hayes
Billy Hayes
Billy or Bill Hayes may refer to:* Billy Hayes , leader of the Communication Workers' Union* Billy Hayes , author of Midnight Express...
, Jeremy Dear
Jeremy Dear
Jeremy Dear was the General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists in Great Britain and Ireland, from 2001 to 2011.He has a reputation as one of the Awkward Squad of left-wing trade unionists. He is married to Paula Dear who is a journalist with the BBC. Jeremy Dear is a supporter of the...
, Mick Rix
Mick Rix
Mick Rix is a British trade unionist and politician.-Union career:Rix is the former General Secretary of ASLEF. Rix left school at 16, and started work the next day, with no qualifications...
, Mark Serwotka
Mark Serwotka
Mark Serwotka , is General Secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union , the trade union for British civil servants.-Early life:Born into a Catholic orphanage in Cardiff, Wales, he was adopted by a Polish British father and a Welsh mother....
, and Bob Crow
Bob Crow
Robert Crow , who is better known as Bob Crow, is a British trade union leader, the General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and a member of the General Council of the TUC...
among others, argued for a much more aggressive and militant labour movement which would push the Labour Party in a more leftist direction and begin to challenge the lingering effects of Thatcherism
Thatcherism
Thatcherism describes the conviction politics, economic and social policy, and political style of the British Conservative politician Margaret Thatcher, who was leader of her party from 1975 to 1990...
. The media began calling the group the Awkward Squad
Awkward Squad (trade unions)
The Awkward Squad is an informal grouping of socialist trade unionists in the United Kingdom. The term was given in 2002-3 to those that opposed what they regarded as the economically liberal policies of the ruling New Labour faction of the Labour Party...
.
Political activity
Mackney is a lifelong opponent of racismRacism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
. He has been involved in anti-racism activities since his youth. As a trade union leader, he pushed for establishment of the Commission for Black Staff in Further Education and has attacked discrimination against staff and faculty as well as societal racism which prevents students from obtaining jobs upon graduation. Mackney has also vocally opposed the British National Party
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...
and other organized and unorganized forms of fascism in British society.
He is also a strong supporter of Palestinian independence
Palestinian nationalism
Palestinian nationalism is the national movement of the Palestinian people. It has roots in Pan-Arabism and other movements rejecting colonialism and calling for national independence. More recently, Palestinian Nationalism is expressed through the Israeli–Palestinian conflict...
. However, in 2006, Mackney opposed a NATFHE resolution supporting a boycott of Israeli institutions of higher education.
Mackney was also an early and strong opponent of the Iraq War. He has spoken out angrily about British involvement in the war, and condemned the government for its continued involvement in the continuing military occupation of Iraq.