Stanley Gretton (1920 or 1921 – 17 June 1975) was a British trade union leader. Gretton worked as a baker, and joined the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers in 1937. He soon became a shop steward, 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 The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union (BFAWU) is a trade union in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1847 in Manchester, it represents workers in the food industry. History The union dates its origin to 1847. The Manchester Friendly Association ...

. 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 (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 contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established 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 Samuel Maddox (died 1979) was a British trade unionist. Maddox worked as a baker, and joined the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union (BFAWU) is a trade union in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1847 in ...

, 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