Maureen Le Marinel, branch secretary for UNISON's Lancashire
Police branch, now holds the title.
Her long-term commitment to trade unions started in 1984. After
being discharged from the Army for being gay, she took a job in
Lancashire police's control room. A UNISON member after coming out,
her experience was so positive that it inspired her to get more
involved.
She soon became a steward, and her role grew as the equality laws
were taking shape, and her force used her as an unofficial policy
person. She was an assistant branch secretary for ten years, and -
when Lancashire Police's own branch was founded in 2006 - she
became its branch secretary.
Le Marinel has been sitting on regional committees since the early
90's. She became the police staff representative on the national
police forum in 2000, and joined the NEC, the union's highest lay
body, in 2003.
"Throughout my life, fairness has always been key. UNISON is not a
banging on the table type of union - we want to find a fair and
reasonable solution that is best for everyone," she said.
"This is a guiding principle that will take me through my
presidential term, as I help the union, and public services, face
head on some of the biggest challenges that we have faced in my
lifetime."
In 2006, Le Marinel was married in a civil partnership to her
partner Michelle, who she met at UNISON's National Delegate
Conference in 2003.
