Susan Elizabeth Ferns (born 27 October 1960) is a British trade unionist. Born in

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

, Ferns studied at

Salford University , caption = Coat of ArmsUniversity of Salford , mottoeng = "Let us seek higher things" , established = 1850 - Pendleton Mechanics Institute 1896 – Royal Technical Institute, Salford 1967 – gained ...

. In 1982, she began working for the

Trades Union Congress The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a national trade union centre A national trade union center (or national center or central) is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a country. Nearly every country in the world has a national tra ...

(TUC) as a policy officer. In 1993, she moved to work as a research officer at the

Institution of Professionals Managers and Specialists The Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists (IPMS) was a trade union representing managers and other people with professional qualifications in the United Kingdom, with a majority of members working in the civil service. History T ...

. This union merged into Prospect in 2001, and the following year, Ferns became its head of research. In 2005, she was elected as a member of 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 ...

. In 2013, Ferns became the Prospect's director of communications and research, and then in 2018 its senior deputy general secretary. From 2007 until 2022, Ferns was also chair of Unions 21, and since 2012 has been chair of the Trade Union Sustainable Development Advisory Committee. She was appointed to the government's Green Jobs Task Force in 2021. In 2021, Ferns was elected as

President of the Trades Union Congress The President of the Trades Union Congress is a prominent but largely honorary position in British trade unionism. History Initially, the post of president was elected at the annual Trades Union Congress (TUC) itself, and would serve just for the d ...

, in which role she focused on campaigning to close the gender pay gap and pensions gap.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferns, Sue 1960 births Living people Alumni of the University of Salford Presidents of the Trades Union Congress Trade unionists from Sheffield