David Basnett

Who was David Basnett?

David Basnett was a prominent British trade union leader.

Born in Liverpool, Basnett studied at Quarry Bank High School before becoming a bank clerk. He served as a pilot with the Royal Air Force during World War II, then in 1948 began working for the National Union of General and Municipal Workers, as their regional officer for Liverpool.

In 1955, Basnett became the NUGMW's national education officer, while, in 1960, he was appointed national industrial officer, and in 1966 he was elected to the general council of the Trades Union Congress. In 1970, he negotiated a satisfactory settlement to a major dispute at Pilkington, and he used this success as a springboard to win election as the union's general secretary in 1973.

As general secretary, Basnett pursued a campaign of centralisation, aimed to increase participation, and conducted numerous mergers with smaller unions, the NUGMW changing its name twice under his leadership, becoming the "General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union" in 1982. He served as President of the TUC in 1978, and was also on the National Enterprise Board and the National Economic Development Council.