33 Facts About Matt Wrack

Matthew D Wrack was born on 23 May 1962 and is a British trade unionist and former firefighter.

Matt Wrack served as General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union from May 2005 to January 2025.

Matt Wrack was President of the Trades Union Congress from 2023 to 2024.

Matt Wrack subsequently moved to London, working for a time in the DHSS before joining the fire service.

Matt Wrack was active in the Labour Party Young Socialists before going on to join the Socialist Party, which he had left by the time he was elected to lead the FBU in 2005.

Matt Wrack's union disaffiliated from the Labour Party in 2004 but reaffiliated in November 2015.

Matt Wrack was initially posted to Silvertown Fire Station in the east London borough of Newham, which was closed during a round of cuts in 2014.

Kingsland Fire Station was closed during the cuts of 2014 and Matt Wrack attended the protest at the closure.

Matt Wrack held various positions in the Fire Brigades Union at branch, area and regional level.

Matt Wrack worked with Mick Shaw on the North East London Area Committee where both became at various stages secretary and chair.

In July 1991, whilst North East London Area Secretary of the FBU, Matt Wrack attended the fatal fire at Gillender Street at which two firefighters, Terry Hunt and David Stokoe were killed.

Matt Wrack was involved in various rank and file and left wing groupings within the FBU, including the Fire Brigades Broad Left which involved the then union president, Ronnie Scott.

Between 1991 and 1995, Matt Wrack helped produce and edit Flame, a bulletin of Militant supporters within the fire service.

In January 2025, Matt Wrack lost his bid for re-election as general secretary to the union's vice-president, Steve Wright, by 1,752 votes.

Matt Wrack decided not to stand again, saving the FBU from rerunning the election.

In early 2000, Matt Wrack was closely involved in the campaign around the FBU Homerton 11, eleven members who were suspended from work and disciplined by the London Fire Brigade management.

Matt Wrack became a leading critic of the strategy followed by the FBU leadership at the time.

Matt Wrack then defeated incumbent General Secretary Andy Gilchrist on 5 May 2005 after Gilchrist had served one five-year term.

Matt Wrack stood for re-election in 2010 and was challenged by John McGhee, a longstanding ally of former general secretary Andy Gilchrist.

Matt Wrack was elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress in 2006 and has been re-elected since.

Matt Wrack was elected onto the TUC executive committee.

Matt Wrack was returned unopposed for a third term as FBU general secretary in 2014.

In 2008, Matt Wrack launched a new report for the FBU on firefighter deaths in the line of duty.

Matt Wrack condemned this move and the FBU launched a campaign for the appeal to be dropped and compensation paid in relation to those killed or injured at the incident.

Matt Wrack has participated in the various campaigns against austerity since the election of the coalition government at the 2010 general election.

Matt Wrack successfully moved a motion at the TUC in 2012 calling for public ownership of the banks and financial services sector, the first time such a motion had been carried by the TUC in its history.

Matt Wrack spoke at the 2008 Campaign for Climate Change trade union conference and at the Time to Act demonstration on climate change in March 2015.

Matt Wrack commissioned two FBU reports on flooding in 2008 and in 2014 as well as the union's own climate change report in 2010.

Matt Wrack pledged prior to election to take a salary "based on average earnings of FBU members".

Matt Wrack was interviewed about his stance on his salary for a BBC Radio 4 documentary in 2015.

On 22 April 2025, Matt Wrack was announced as the next general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union.

Matt Wrack will take on the role when the current general secretary Patrick Roach stands down later in the year.

Matt Wrack was born in Manchester but has lived in east London since 1981.