Lee Baron
Born and raised in Northampton, Lee went to school in Far Cotton
and finished his education at Roade Comprehensive in 1986. He
left school at the age of 16 to join the Royal Mail. He soon
became active in the workplace, becoming the representative for
youth trainees in 1988. By the age of 22 he was elected
leader of the counties postal workers leading a branch of some 2,
500 members and the largest trade union branch in
Northamptonshire.
In 2007 Lee was elected Midland Regional Secretary of the
Communication Workers Union, responsible for over 30, 000 workers
mainly in the postal, telecom and financial services sectors
throughout the whole of the Midlands. He is the youngest
Field Official with the CWU at 37 years old. His
responsibilities include representing the CWU at regional level in
the wider movement at the East and West Midlands Labour Party and
he sits on the regional executive of the TUC.
A former Councillor who, in 1999, was elected Councillor for the
Castle Ward area of Northampton on Northampton Borough
Council. Promoting regeneration the area has seen a
significant improvement over the years through a multi-agency
approach co-ordinated by Lee as Chair of the local partnership body
CASPAR+.
Following the local elections in 2003 Lee became leader of the
Labour Group. Graduating from the Improvement and Development
Agency's Leadership Academy in 2005 Lee has undertaken numerous
roles for his party including election agent at general elections
and Chief Scrutineer at the Labour Party's national
conference. He stood down from the Council in 2007 following
his election to Regional Secretary of the CWU.
A community politician and a firm believer in social justice, Lee
has championed the cause of the labour movement all his adult
life.
Lee also sits on the national trade union
campaign for affordable housing.
In October 2004 Lee was appointed to the Northampton Magistrates
Bench as a Justice of the Peace.
A member of the WNDC Board since March 2005 and re-appointed in
2007.