Sidney Francis Greene, Baron Greene of Harrow Weald, (12 February 1910 – 26 July 2004) was a

trade union 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 benefits ...

leader in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, serving as general secretary of the

National Union of Railwaymen The National Union of Railwaymen was a trade union of railway workers in the United Kingdom. The largest railway workers' union in the country, it was influential in the national trade union movement. History The NUR was an industrial union ...

from 1957 to 1975. He promoted close ties between the union and the Labour Party, which have not persisted with its successor

National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (commonly known as the RMT) is a British trade union covering the transport sector. Its current President is Alex Gordon and its current General Secretary is Mick Lynch. The RMT is on ...

. Early in his career, after leaving school at age 14, Greene was a porter at

Paddington station Paddington, also known as London Paddington, is a Central London railway terminus and London Underground station complex, located on Praed Street in the Paddington area. The site has been the London terminus of services provided by the Great ...

. Appointed a Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in the 1966

New Year's Honours The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, with New Year's Day, 1 January, being marked by naming new members of orders of chivalry and recipients of other official honours. A number of other Commonwealth realms also mark this ...

, he was Knighted in 1970. On 21 January 1975 he was created a life peer as Baron Greene of Harrow Weald, of Harrow in the County of Greater London.

External links

''Guardian'' obituary''Scotsman'' obituary
1910 births 2004 deaths Commanders of the Order of the British Empire General Secretaries of the National Union of Railwaymen Knights Bachelor Greene of Harrow Weald Members of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress Presidents of the Trades Union Congress Life peers created by Elizabeth II {{UK-trade-unionist-bio-stub