 She became active in the trade union NALGO, becoming a member of its National Executive by 1973 and serving as President for 1989/90.She was a member of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress from 1989—representing NALGO which merged to become UNISON in 1993—and was TUC President in 2000.In October 2000 she left her trade union positions on being appointed as Chair of the industrial conciliation service ACAS, a post she held until 2007.