Stanley Gretton (1920 or 1921 – 17 June 1975) was a

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trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

leader. Gretton worked as a baker, and joined the

Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers Amalgamation is the process of combining or uniting multiple entities into one form. Amalgamation, amalgam, and other derivatives may refer to: Mathematics and science * Amalgam (chemistry), the combination of mercury with another metal **Pan ama ...

in 1937. He soon became a

shop steward A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company who represents and defends the interests of their fellow employees as a trades/labour union member and official. Rank-and-file members of the un ...

, then branch secretary, before working full-time for the union at the district and regional level. In 1968, he was elected as general secretary of what was by then known as the Bakers' Union. As leader, Gretton was considered to be on the right wing of the union movement. He focused his time on the industry's National Joint Committee for England and Wales, and was chosen as its chair. He was elected to the

General Council of the Trades Union Congress The General Council of the Trades Union Congress is an elected body which is responsible for carrying out the policies agreed at the annual British Trades Union Congresses (TUC). Organisation The council has 56 members, all of whom must be proposed ...

(TUC) in 1969, but in 1972 the union refused to follow TUC policy of deregistering with the government, and was therefore expelled from the organisation. That year, he was made an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

. By 1974, union members were becoming increasingly discontented with low pay, but Gretton opposed claims for large wage increases, arguing that they were motivated by "outside influences". He died suddenly in 1975, and was succeeded by Sam Maddox, a more left-wing figure. Outside his union Gretton also served on the committees of the Churchill Trust, the Pre-Retirement Association, and the Apprenticeship Council of the Baking Industry.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gretton, Stan 1920s births 1975 deaths British trade union leaders Members of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress Officers of the Order of the British Empire