Tim Roache

Roache was born on 6 April 1962 and grew up in London, where his father was a shop steward on the docks. In 1979, he began working in the postroom of the GMB, over time being promoted to become a legal officer, then an organiser, and finally in 2007 as the union's Regional Secretary for Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.{{cite news|last1=Roache|first1=Tim|title=Leading From The Front|url=http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-98a2-Leading-from-the-front|accessdate=16 February 2016|date=12 December 2015}}

In 2009, Roache led a 13-week strike of refuse workers and street cleaners employed by Leeds City Council; this was the longest strike in the GMB's history.{{cite news|title=Tim Roache elected new head of GMB|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34801085|accessdate=16 February 2016|work=BBC News|date=12 November 2015}} He also ran the "End Foul Pay" campaign for football clubs to pay ground staff higher wages.{{cite news|title=GMB: Campaigner Roache Aims For The Top Job|url=http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-070b-GMB-Campaigner-Roache-aims-for-the-top-job|accessdate=16 February 2016|work=Morning Star|date=30 June 2015}}

Roache was elected as General Secretary and Treasurer of the GMB in November 2015, receiving 56.7% of the vote on a turnout of 4.2%, beating the one other candidate, Paul McCarthy.{{cite magazine |author= |magazine=Private Eye |location=London |publisher= Pressdram Ltd|date=5 August 2016 }} Roache took up the post in 2016. He was re-elected in 2019 with 61% of the vote.{{cite news |url=https://labourlist.org/2019/11/tim-roache-re-elected-as-gmb-general-secretary-with-61-of-vote/ |title=Tim Roache re-elected as GMB general secretary with 61% of vote |website=LabourList |date=15 November 2019 |access-date=15 November 2019}}

In April 2020 Roache resigned suddenly, on the grounds of ill health,{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/gmb-union-boss-tim-roache-quits-role-due-to-ill-health-less-than-six-months-after-re-election-11980256 |title=GMB Union boss Tim Roache quits role due to 'ill health' - less than six months after re-election |last=Heffer |first=Greg |work=Sky News |date=28 April 2020 |access-date=28 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52475683| title= Allegations investigated by GMB union as boss Tim Roache resigns| first= Iain| last= Watson| website= BBC News Online| date= 29 April 2020| accessdate= 29 April 2020}} amid reports he had been forced to resign.{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5ed15841-f346-49ac-b81f-c36008034a8d |title=GMB chief Tim Roache resigns abruptly |last=Pickard |first=Jim |newspaper=Financial Times |url-access=subscription |date=28 April 2020 |access-date=29 April 2020}} A GMB statement said Roache's chronic fatigue syndrome illness some years ago had restarted and he resigned following medical advice.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/apr/29/gmb-union-launch-inquiry-into-claims-against-tim-roache |title=GMB union launch inquiry into claims against Tim Roache |author1=Rajeev Syal |author2=Heather Stewart |newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 April 2020 |access-date=30 April 2020}} After receiving anonymous allegations about Roache's conduct, the union conducted a barrister-led internal inquiry,{{cite news |url=https://news.sky.com/story/gmb-union-boss-tim-roache-who-quit-due-to-ill-health-now-being-investigated-over-his-conduct-11980256 |title=GMB Union boss Tim Roache who quit due to ill health now being investigated over his conduct |last=Heffer |first=Greg |work=Sky News |date=29 April 2020 |access-date=8 June 2021}} which concluded that bullying, misogyny, cronyism and sexual harassment were "endemic" within the union.{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/gmb-union-urged-to-change-its-culture-to-end-bullying-and-sexual-harassment-39498994.html |title=GMB union urged to change its culture to end bullying and sexual harassment |agency=Press Association |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |first=Alan |last=Jones |date=2 September 2020 |access-date=8 June 2021}}

Alongside his role in the GMB, Roache was the chair of the Centre for Labour and Social Studies (CLASS) and also of the Yorkshire and Humber Trades Union Congress.

Some reports suggested he was supportive of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party and had criticised the 2015 Labour manifesto drawn up under Ed Miliband,{{cite news|last1=Simons|first1=Ned|title=Union Official Tim Roache Slams 'Bullsh**t' Labour 2015 Manifesto, Tells Mandelson He Isn't Wanted|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/29/union-official-tim-roache-slams-bullsht-labour-2015-manifesto_n_8213480.html|accessdate=16 February 2016|work=Huffington Post|date=29 September 2015}} though other reports state he was not an enthusiastic backer, or a critic, of Corbyn. Roache did not back the 2016 challenge to Corbyn's leadership, saying "This is about democracy and respecting the Labour Party’s democratic process. Jeremy has a strong mandate, and it’s hugely disappointing that this is not being respected".{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/brexit-mps-to-vote-on-motion-of-no-confidence-in-corbyn-1.2702055 |title=Brexit: MPs to vote on motion of no confidence in Corbyn |last=Staunton |first=Denis |newspaper=Irish Times |date=27 June 2016 |access-date=8 June 2021}}

In his spare time, Roache supports Arsenal F.C. and coaches his son's local football team, Kippax Juniors. He is also a father and a husband.

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{{succession box | title=General Secretary of the GMB | before=Paul Kenny | after= Gary Smith | years= 2016–2020}}

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Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:General secretaries of the GMB (trade union)

Category:Members of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress

Category:People with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome