Rozanne Foyer (born November 1972) is a Scottish trade unionist who has served as the

General Secretary Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, Power (social and political), power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the org ...

of the

Scottish Trades Union Congress The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) is the national trade union centre in Scotland. With 40 affiliated unions as of 2020, the STUC represents over 540,000 trade unionists. The STUC is a separate organisation from the English and Welsh ...

(STUC) since 2020; the first woman to hold the post.

Early life

Foyer grew up in Glasgow as an only child, where she helped out on her parents' market stall in the Barras. She left school after her Highers, and worked in the VAT office, but left after being sexually harassed and unsure of her rights, an experience which inspired her to join a union.

Career

Foyer worked for the

Benefits Agency The Benefits Agency (BA) was an executive agency of the British Department of Social Security (subsequently the Department for Work and Pensions The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is a Departments of the Government of the United Kin ...

, where she led a successful campaign against privatisation. This led the

Graphical, Paper and Media Union The Graphical, Paper and Media Union (GPMU) was a trade union in the United Kingdom and Ireland between 1991 and 2005. History The GPMU was formed from the merger of SOGAT and the National Graphical Association (NGA) and claimed to be the worl ...

to take her on full-time as a trainee organiser, following which she became an assistant secretary at the

(STUC). Her next appointment was as a national officer for the

Transport and General Workers' Union The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU or T&G) was one of the largest general union, general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland—where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union (ATGWU)—with 900 ...

, and after it became part of

Unite Unite may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Albums * ''Unite'' (1GN album), 2016 * ''Unite'' (A Friend in London album), 2013 * ''Unite'' (Kool & the Gang album), 1992 * ''Unite'' (The O.C. Supertones album), 2005 Songs *"Unite!" ...

, she worked in its national organising department. Foyer served on the general council of the STUC for many years, served a term as chair of the STUC's youth committee. In 2020, she was appointed as General Secretary of the STUC, the first woman to hold the post. In March 2023, it was announced that Foyer would be joining Scottish newspaper '' The National'' as a regular columnist.

Personal life

Foyer has been married to Simon Macfarlane, also a trade unionist, since 2002. They have two daughters. She lives in Glasgow, and also has homes on the Isle of Jura and in Spain amongst others.https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/revealed-scottish-trades-union-chief-who-owns-three-homes-s5v6lrx5l

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foyer, Roz 1972 births Living people General secretaries of the Scottish Trades Union Congress Politicians from Glasgow 21st-century Scottish women Scottish women trade unionists