William Manuel Morris,Baron Morris of Handsworth (born 19 October 1938) is a former British trade union leader. He was General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union from 1992 to 2003,and the first black leader of a major British trade union.
Bill Morris was born in Manchester Parish,Jamaica. After the death of his father,William,a part-time policeman,his mother,Una,emigrated to England to find work settling in Handsworth,Birmingham. Morris joined her in the UK in 1954,finding work at a local car parts manufacturer,Hardy Spicer Engineering Ltd.
Morris married Minetta in 1957. His wife died in 1990. They have two sons.
Trade union career
Morris joined the Transport and General Workers' Union in 1958,and became a shop steward in 1962. After serving on the TGWU General Executive Council (GEC) from 1972 to 1973,Bill Morris joined the union as a full-time official. He served as district officer of the Nottingham District from 1973 to 1976 and district secretary of the Northampton District from 1976 to 1979. In 1979,he became national secretary of the Passenger Services Trade Group,which was responsible for staff working for bus and coach companies. He was elected deputy general secretary on the 18 September 1985,working under general secretary Ron Todd.
Morris was elected general secretary when Ron Todd retired in 1992. He was re-elected in 1995,ahead of Jack Dromey. He remained in the post until his retirement on his 65th birthday,19 October 2003,when he was succeeded as general secretary by Tony Woodley.
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