Paul Nowak

Term of appointment: 1 September 2026 – 31 August 2030

Paul Nowak became the Trades Union Congress's general secretary in January 2023. He leads its work representing 47 unions and 5.3 million members. 

He has been an active trade unionist and campaigner all his working life and first joined a union at the age of 17. Before becoming a trade union official, Paul had always been employed on temporary and agency contracts, in supermarkets, hotels, call centres and the public sector.  

He has held a variety of regional and national roles within the TUC, including leading the TUC Organising Academy and developing the Leading Change development programme for senior union officers.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Paul led union efforts to improve the Government’s safe working guidance, making sure millions of workers had a safer work environment. He also supported the securing of furlough, and led campaigns for sectoral support in the cultural industries, aviation and transport.

He has represented the TUC on public and external bodies including the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. He is the president of Unity Trust, the trade union bank.

He also represents the TUC on international bodies including the International Trade Union Confederation.