Andrea Egan Wikipedia, Biography, Age, Career, UNISON, Election, Net Worth, Education, Husband, Family

admin

Andrea Egan is a prominent British trade unionist and social worker who, as of December 2025, is the General Secretary-elect of UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union. In a historic upset, she defeated the incumbent General Secretary, Christina McAnea, securing nearly 60% of the vote. Her victory marks a significant shift to the left for the union, as she ran on the “Time for Real Change” platform, promising to transform UNISON into a more member-led, campaigning organization. She is set to formally begin her five-year term on January 22, 2026, becoming the first lay member (someone who holds a regular job while volunteering for the union) to ever hold the union’s top post.

Professionally, Egan has dedicated over three decades to social work, a background that heavily informs her trade unionism. She began her career in the 1980s working in children’s residential care in Bolton. Starting as a residential care worker supporting vulnerable children, she eventually rose to become a manager of a residential unit. Later, she transitioned to become a qualified social worker after receiving training funded by Bolton Council. Throughout her career, she remained deeply embedded in the rank-and-file membership, serving as the Branch Secretary for the Bolton Local Government branch of UNISON.

Her rise to national prominence within the union was steady and marked by a focus on grassroots organizing. Before her election as General Secretary, she served as the President of UNISON from 2022 to 2023. During her presidency, she championed the “Organising to Win” program, which focused on securing better pay and conditions for members. She also supported the implementation of the union’s first race discrimination panel and advocated for trans-ally training and a “disabled workers passport.” A central pillar of her 2025 General Secretary campaign was her pledge to reject the position’s £181,000 salary, promising instead to take a “social worker’s wage” and donate the remainder to union welfare and industrial action funds.

Politically, Egan describes herself as a “straight-talking working class trade unionist” with socialist views. Her relationship with the Labour Party has been contentious; she was expelled from the party in November 2022 for sharing articles on social media from Socialist Appeal, a Marxist organization proscribed by the Labour leadership. Consequently, she has been a vocal critic of the Labour Party under Keir Starmer, arguing that the union has been too “subservient” to the party. She has committed to launching a comprehensive review of UNISON’s relationship with Labour to ensure it serves the interests of the union’s 1.3 million members.

Fast Facts: Andrea Egan

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Andrea Egan
Profession	Social Worker, Trade Union Leader
Current Role	General Secretary-elect, UNISON (Term starts Jan 2026)
Previous Role	President of UNISON (2022–2023)
Nationality	British
Hometown	Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK
Key Achievement	First lay member elected as UNISON General Secretary
Political Stance	Socialist; Expelled from Labour Party (2022)

Early Life and Family Background

Childhood in Germany and Bolton

Andrea Egan was born into a working-class family with strong ties to public service. Her early childhood was spent in Germany, where her father served in the British Armed Forces. This international upbringing was cut short when her parents separated in the early 1970s. Following the separation, Andrea, along with her mother and brother, returned to the United Kingdom.

Growing Up on a Council Estate

Upon returning to the UK, the family initially lived with her grandparents before moving into a council house on an estate in Bolton. Egan has frequently spoken about the challenges of her upbringing, describing the estate as “crime-ridden” but also a place that forged her resilience. Raised primarily by a single mother who relied on odd jobs and occasionally state benefits to make ends meet, Egan witnessed firsthand the struggles of working-class families.

Education and Qualifications

Early Ambitions

As a young girl, Egan initially aspired to join the police force. However, she was too young to enlist at the time she entered the workforce. Instead, she found her calling in social care, a field that allowed her to channel her desire to help others into direct action.

Social Work Training

Egan’s educational journey was unconventional and rooted in vocational training. She enrolled in a local college course on a bursary from the local council, which included practical work placements. Her career began without a formal degree, working as an unqualified social worker. Recognizing her potential, Bolton Council later funded her training, allowing her to become a registered qualified social worker.

Career History: From the Frontline to General Secretary

Early Career in Residential Care

Egan’s professional life began in the 1980s as a residential care worker. By the age of 19, she was working in care homes, and in her early 20s, she transitioned to the children’s residential care sector. She worked in large, challenging units that housed some of society’s most vulnerable youth.

Trade Union Beginnings

It was during her time in residential care that Egan’s trade union journey began. At just 22 years old, she became a shop steward (union representative). She was encouraged to take the role by colleagues who saw her as “young and single” with less to lose than those with families to support. She quickly proved to be a formidable advocate, eventually becoming the Trade Union Convenor for Children’s Services and later the Branch Secretary for the Bolton Local Government Branch of UNISON.

Rise to National Prominence

Egan’s effectiveness at the local level propelled her onto the national stage.

National Executive Council (NEC): She was elected to UNISON’s NEC in 2017, representing the voice of local government workers.
UNISON President (2022–2023): In June 2022, she was elected President of UNISON. Her tenure was marked by a focus on the “Organising to Win” strategy, which aimed to increase member participation and secure better pay deals. She also championed equality initiatives, including the union’s first race discrimination panel and a “disabled workers passport.“

2025 General Secretary Election

In December 2025, Andrea Egan achieved a historic victory by winning the election for General Secretary of UNISON. Running on the left-wing “Time for Real Change” ticket, she secured 58,579 votes (approx. 60%), decisively defeating the incumbent Christina McAnea. Her victory campaign focused on:

Increasing strike pay and industrial action support.
Democratizing the union’s structure.
Reviewing the union’s relationship with the Labour Party.

She is set to formally take office on January 22, 2026.

Political Views and Controversy

Socialist Beliefs

Andrea Egan identifies as a “straight-talking working-class trade unionist” and a socialist. Her politics are defined by a belief in strong public services, anti-austerity measures, and international solidarity.

Expulsion from the Labour Party

Egan’s relationship with the Labour Party has been contentious. Although she had been a member since 2010, she was expelled in November 2022. The expulsion was due to her sharing articles on social media from Socialist Appeal, a Marxist organization proscribed by the Labour leadership under Keir Starmer. Egan has been a vocal critic of this decision and has accused the Labour leadership of being hostile to left-wing voices. As General Secretary, she has promised to review UNISON’s funding and affiliation with Labour to ensure it serves the best interests of union members.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Andrea Egan is married and has children. While she keeps the names of her family members private, she has publicly thanked her husband and family for their support during difficult times.

Health Battles

Egan is a survivor of a severe health crisis. She spent 22 days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a Bolton hospital, battling a life-threatening illness. She has credited the NHS staff with saving her life, an experience that has only deepened her commitment to fighting for proper funding for the National Health Service.

Net Worth and Salary Pledge

Projected Income

As the General Secretary of UNISON, the role typically commands a salary package of approximately £181,000 (including benefits and housing allowance).

The “Social Worker’s Wage” Pledge

In a move that distinguishes her from many other union leaders, Egan has pledged not to take the full salary. Instead, she has committed to taking only the wage of a skilled social worker (estimated at around £50,000 per year). She intends to donate the remainder of the salary to UNISON’s welfare charity (“There for You”) and the union’s industrial action funds.

Net Worth

Andrea Egan’s personal net worth is not publicly disclosed. However, given her long career in public service and her refusal of high executive salaries, her wealth is modest compared to corporate executives or other high-ranking officials.

Conclusion

Andrea Egan’s biography is a testament to the power of grassroots activism. From a childhood on a council estate in Bolton to the leadership of the UK’s biggest union, her journey reflects a lifelong dedication to the working class. Her election as General Secretary of UNISON signals a new era for the trade union movement—one that challenges the status quo, demands greater accountability from political leaders, and prioritizes the needs of the lowest-paid workers. As she steps into her new role in 2026, all eyes will be on how her “real change” agenda transforms the landscape of British labor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Andrea Egan?

Andrea Egan is a British social worker and trade unionist who was elected as the General Secretary of UNISON in December 2025.

Is Andrea Egan’s name “Andrea Egan Lopez”?

No, her public and professional name is Andrea Egan. The name “Lopez” does not appear in her official union records or biography.

What is Andrea Egan’s salary as General Secretary?

While the role offers a package of roughly £181,000, Egan has pledged to take only a social worker’s wage (approx. £50,000) and donate the rest to union funds.