John Denby Sheldon is a British

trade unionist A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and Employee ben ...

and former

General Secretary Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...

of the

Public and Commercial Services Union The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) is the sixth largest trade union in the United Kingdom. Most of its members work in UK government departments and other public bodies. History The union was founded in 1998 by the merger of th ...

, and its predecessors; NUCPS, PTC and the CSU.

Early life

Sheldon was educated at West Leeds High School.

Career

John Sheldon presided over a period of successive

public sector The public sector, also called the state sector, is the part of the economy composed of both public services and public enterprises. Public sectors include the public goods and governmental services such as the military, law enforcement, infra ...

trade union mergers during the 1980s and 1990s. John Sheldon was elected General Secretary of the

Civil Service Union The Civil Service Union (CSU) was a trade union in the United Kingdom which existed between 1917 and 1988. It represented lower-paid staff within the British Civil Service such as cleaners and messengers. History The union was formed in 1917 as ...

in 1982, following service as Deputy General Secretary. During this time Sheldon and the CSU were amongst those active in opposing the Thatcher Government ban on trade union membership at

GCHQ Government Communications Headquarters, commonly known as GCHQ, is an intelligence and security organisation responsible for providing signals intelligence (SIGINT) and information assurance (IA) to the government and armed forces of the Unit ...

and the subsequent legal challenge in 1984. Sheldon described the government's £1000 tax compensation for GCHQ workers as "Judas Money". In 1988 he then oversaw the subsequent merger with the

Society of Civil and Public Servants The Society of Civil and Public Servants (SCPS) was a trade union representing middle-ranking civil servants in the United Kingdom. The union was founded in 1918 as the Society of Civil Servants (SCS), to represent intermediate class clerks. The ...

to form the

National Union of Civil and Public Servants The National Union of Civil and Public Servants (NUCPS) was a trade union in the United Kingdom. The union was formed in 1988 with the merger of the Civil Service Union and the Society of Civil and Public Servants. John Sheldon (trade unionist ...

and served as its General Secretary from 1993. When NUCPS merged with the IRSF in 1996 to form the

Public Services, Tax and Commerce Union The Public Services, Tax and Commerce Union (PTC) was a short-lived trade union in the United Kingdom. The union was formed in January 1996, when the Inland Revenue Staff Federation merged with the National Union of Civil and Public Servants. ...

(PTC), Sheldon continued as Joint General Secretary along with the IRSF's

Clive Brooke Clive Brooke, Baron Brooke of Alverthorpe (born 21 June 1942) is a British trade unionist, and Labour Member of the House of Lords. The son of John Brooke and Mary Colbeck, Brooke was educated in Thornes House School, Wakefield. From 1964 to 1 ...

. During this period of service, Sheldon served for six years on the

General Council of the TUC 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 Trade Union Congresses (TUC). Organisation The council has 56 members, all of whom must be proposed ...

, standing down in 1998. In yet another merger, in 1998, PTC joined with the

Civil and Public Services Association The Civil and Public Services Association (CPSA) was a trade union in the United Kingdom, representing civil servants. History The union was founded in 1921, when the Civil Service Clerical Union and the Clerical Officers' Association merged ...

to form the

(PCS). Sheldon continued as Joint General Secretary of PCS, alongside the CPSA's

Barry Reamsbottom Barry Arthur Reamsbottom (born 4 April 1949) is a former Scottish civil servant and trade union General Secretary. He was General Secretary of the Civil and Public Services Association (1992–1998) and its successor the Public and Commercial ...

. Sheldon's right to continue to hold the position of General Secretary without election for more than five years was challenged under section 55 of the

Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992c 52 is a UK Act of Parliament which regulates United Kingdom labour law. The Act applies in full in England and Wales and in Scotland, and partially in Northern Ireland. The law cont ...

but the complaint was dismissed. Sheldon retired on his due date 31 July 2000, leaving Reamsbottom as sole General Secretary. That year Sheldon was awarded the OBE for his service to trades unionism. Following retirement, Sheldon remained active in trade union affairs, and chaired the Civil Service Appeals Panel. In 2005, Sheldon was invited to lead several independent internal trade unions investigations on behalf of PCS, the FBU and

ASLEF The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) is a British trade union representing train drivers. It is part of the International Transport Workers' Federation and the European Transport Workers' Federation. At the end of ...

. More recently, Sheldon attended a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the GCHQ campaign.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheldon, John Year of birth missing (living people) Living people General Secretaries of the Public and Commercial Services Union Members of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress Officers of the Order of the British Empire Politicians from Leeds