LEE Barron has been appointed as the new regional secretary for the Midlands TUC, taking up his role this month.

The 44-year-old will be based in the Midlands TUC’s Birmingham office and be the TUC’s senior representative across the Midlands region.

He was raised and still lives in Northampton and served the postal and telecom workers Union, the CWU, at local level and then at regional level for 26 years, leading high-profile campaigns against the privatisation of Royal Mail. He was the youngest official within the CWU.

Mr Barron said: “I am proud to be appointed to the role of Midlands regional secretary of the TUC and speaking for our 54 affiliated trade unions, organising nearly 1 million workers across the Midlands, in every sector or our economy.

"I look forward to leading the challenge to the false economy, where new employment opportunities are based around zero hours contracts and minimum wage rates.

"People deserve better and the TUC is leading the campaign for an economy built on secure jobs, with real terms wage rises, to build a sustainable future and not one built on austerity.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Lee steps into the role of regional secretary with a wealth of experience in the trade union movement and within the Midlands region.

"His previous roles within the CWU show his passion for issues and justice, both in the workplace and in communities.

“Lee will be a strong advocate for everyone living and working in the Midlands who want secure jobs with living wages and a new economy that works for the many and not just the few.

“The region has been hit hard by the Coalition’s cuts and the loss of real wages and Lee has the strengths needed to lead demands for properly-funded and publicly-owned services and for Midlands workers in both public and private sectors to get a pay rise.”