Laura Doel has become the new general secretary of TUC Cymru, the umbrella organisation with 47 affiliates representing 400,000 members in Wales.
Born and raised in the South Wales Valleys, Doel comes from a family of union members. Her first union was the NUJ as a journalist, and she became an activist within Unison just three days after starting at Blaenau Gwent Council. She also spent seven years at NAHT before taking on the role, which became vacant when Shav Taj was elected to the Senedd as a Labour MS.
Priorities and Background
Doel's varied CV includes manufacturing work at Tillery Valley Foods and a stint as a Chinese takeaway driver. She says this gives her a grounding in various industries and an understanding of what matters to people in work, emphasising the importance of safe, secure jobs and supportive workplaces.
She describes the trade union movement's focus on creating conditions of service where workers can thrive, be protected, and receive decent pay for a job well done. TUC Cymru works with affiliates, lobbies government and employers, and promotes the value of the workforce as the essence of economic success.
Public Sector and Jobs
Doel identifies public sector investment as an absolute priority, noting the economic impact of pressures on services like social care. She is encouraged by the new Welsh Government's plans for a development agency and wants worker voice at the heart of such discussions.
She stresses the need to protect and create jobs, attract business to Wales, and utilise the skills of highly skilled workers. On AI, she says there is an opportunity to use it to benefit the existing workforce and aid job creation, while TUC is clear it is not about subsidising highly paid workers for AI.
Political Landscape
Doel urges calm regarding the Plaid Cymru minority government's early days, acknowledging its 100-day plan but noting that reality is more complicated. She says the supplementary budget not passing was a challenging situation that didn't need to happen, citing long-standing concerns from education unions about ALN funding.
She expresses confidence that politicians in Wales will work together to put people first, and notes that Rhun ap Iorwerth's first public speaking appearance as First Minister was at TUC Cymru Congress. While TUC is not affiliated to Labour, she says they will work with whoever shares the movement's values, and conversations with the new government have been positive.
Doel wants TUC Cymru to use all available levers, including social partnership legislation, to bring partners together and deliver for people in Wales.
