Rita Donaghy
Encyclopedia
Rita Margaret Donaghy, Baroness Donaghy CBE
, FRSA
(born 9 October 1944) is a British
university administrator, trade unionist
and Labour
life peer
in the House of Lords
.
A graduate of the University of Durham, Donaghy worked at the Institute of Education
, University of London
, as an Assistant Registrar and later as Permanent Secretary to the Students' Union. She became active in the trade union NALGO, becoming a member of its National Executive by 1973 and serving as President for 1989/90. She was a member of the TUC
general council from 1989—representing NALGO which merged to become UNISON
in 1993—and was TUC President
in 2000.
In October 2000 she left her trade union positions on being appointed as Chair of the industrial conciliation service ACAS
, a post she held until 2007. She served on the Committee on Standards in Public Life
(Nolan Committee) from 2001 until 2007, briefly as Chair after Sir Alistair Graham
's three-year term ended.
She was a member of the Low Pay Commission
and the Employment Tribunal Taskforce
and chaired the TUC Disabilities Forum. In 2009 Donaghy was invited to chair an enquiry into work-related deaths in the construction industry, whose report published in 2010 contained many recommendations for improving safety in the industry.
for services to employment relations.
She has Honorary Doctorates from the Open University
(2003),
Keele University (2004) and the University of Greenwich (2005). In 2003 she was awarded a Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
, followed in 2004 by Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts
(FRSA).
It was announced in the 2010 Dissolution Honours List that Donaghy would be created a life peer. She was created Baroness Donaghy, of Peckham
in the London Borough of Southwark
, on 26 June 2010.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, FRSA
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
(born 9 October 1944) is a British
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...
university administrator, trade unionist
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...
and Labour
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...
life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
A graduate of the University of Durham, Donaghy worked at the Institute of Education
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, as an Assistant Registrar and later as Permanent Secretary to the Students' Union. She became active in the trade union NALGO, becoming a member of its National Executive by 1973 and serving as President for 1989/90. She was a member of the TUC
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...
general council from 1989—representing NALGO which merged to become UNISON
UNISON
UNISON is the largest trade union in the United Kingdom with over 1.3 million members.The union was formed in 1993 when three public sector trade unions, the National and Local Government Officers Association , the National Union of Public Employees and the Confederation of Health Service...
in 1993—and was TUC President
President of the Trades Union Congress
The President of the Trades Union Congress is a prominent but largely honorary position in British trade unionism.The President is elected at the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress . They officially fill the office for the remainder of the year and then preside over the following...
in 2000.
In October 2000 she left her trade union positions on being appointed as Chair of the industrial conciliation service ACAS
Acas
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is a Crown non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom. Its purpose is to improve organisations and working life through the promotion and facilitation of strong industrial relations practice...
, a post she held until 2007. She served on the Committee on Standards in Public Life
Committee on Standards in Public Life
The Committee on Standards in Public Life is an advisory non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom Government.The Committee on Standards in Public Life is constituted as a standing body with its members appointed for up to three years.-History:...
(Nolan Committee) from 2001 until 2007, briefly as Chair after Sir Alistair Graham
Alistair Graham
Sir John Alistair Graham is a well known figure in British public life. He was Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life from 2003 until April 2007....
's three-year term ended.
She was a member of the Low Pay Commission
and the Employment Tribunal Taskforce
and chaired the TUC Disabilities Forum. In 2009 Donaghy was invited to chair an enquiry into work-related deaths in the construction industry, whose report published in 2010 contained many recommendations for improving safety in the industry.
Honours
Donaghy was awarded the OBE in 1998 for services to industrial relations, and CBE in 20052005 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2005 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 11 June 2005 to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2005.The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour, and arranged firstly by the country whose ministers advised the Queen on the...
for services to employment relations.
She has Honorary Doctorates from the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
(2003),
Keele University (2004) and the University of Greenwich (2005). In 2003 she was awarded a Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is Europe's largest professional institute for people management and development. It is located in Wimbledon, London, England. The organisation has over 135,000 members across 120 countries, and achieved chartered status in 2000...
, followed in 2004 by Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
(FRSA).
It was announced in the 2010 Dissolution Honours List that Donaghy would be created a life peer. She was created Baroness Donaghy, of Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
in the London Borough of Southwark
London Borough of Southwark
The London Borough of Southwark is a London borough in south east London, England. It is directly south of the River Thames and the City of London, and forms part of Inner London.-History:...
, on 26 June 2010.