RMT boss Mick Lynch announces his retirement
By Josh White
Date: Thursday 09 Jan 2025
(Sharecast News) - Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union general secretary Mick Lynch announced his retirement at the age of 63 on Thursday.
Lynch, who has been a prominent figure in the modern trade union movement, said he would step down after the election process for his successor in May.
He was elected as RMT's general secretary in 2021, following decades of service within the union.
He previously served two terms as assistant general secretary and two terms on the union's national executive committee.
Before joining RMT, Lynch worked as a qualified electrician in the construction industry.
His career was disrupted when he was illegally blacklisted for union membership - an experience that led him to co-found the Electrical and Plumbing Industries Union (EPIU) in 1988 after the EETPU was expelled from the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
In 1993, Lynch joined the RMT while working for Eurostar, where he helped to build the operator's branch organization.
Reflecting on his career, he expressed pride in having served the union as both a rank-and-file member and an elected officer.
"It has been a privilege to serve this union for over 30 years in all capacities, but now it is time for change," Lynch said.
"This union has been through a lot of struggles in recent years, and I believe that it has only made it stronger despite all the odds.
"There has never been a more urgent need for a strong union for all transport and energy workers of all grades, but we can only maintain and build a robust organisation for these workers if there is renewal and change."
The RMT's national executive committee has outlined a timeline for the election of a new general secretary, which will be completed by early May 2025. Lynch will continue to serve in his role until the transition is finalised.
Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
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