Michelle Stanistreet
 Michelle Stanistreet     (trade unionist, journalist) | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 1974 |
| Alma mater | University of Liverpool |
Michelle Stanistreet is an English trade unionist and journalist, now General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). She is the first woman to hold the post at the NUJ – she was previously deputy secretary. She replaced Jeremy Dear in July 2011.
Stepping down
In June 2024, Michelle Stanistreet announced she is stepping down as General Secretary after 13 years in the role, triggering an election for her replacement.
Stanistreet emailed NUJ members saying she had been “dealing with some challenging health issues in the last few years” which had “helped crystalise my decision to hand over the NUJ general secretarial baton”.
She wrote: “The days when the role of union general secretary was a run-up to retirement are behind us…
“Every organisation needs creative change, and I think everyone in a leadership position knows when the time comes to move on. Throw in a landmark birthday, and for me the right time is now.”
Stanistreet became the first woman to lead the union in 2011 following three years as its deputy general secretary. She noted in her email:
- “My response at the time was that I may have been the first woman elected but I certainly wouldn’t be the last.”[1]
