Professor George Thomason CBE (1927 - 2017)

Cardiff Business School has learned with sadness that Professor George Thomason, former Chair of Industrial Relations, died on Friday 6 January 2017. He was 89 years old.

The late Professor Thomason enjoyed a long and distinguished academic and civil career and was key figure in industrial relations arbitrations in England and Wales.

In 1966 he was appointed to the Montague Burton Chair of Industrial Relations at the then University College of Wales, Cardiff (UCC). He was only the second person to take up this position, following on from Professor Michael Fogarty. Three Montague Burton Chairs were established in 1929 and 1930, at the University of Leeds, University College of Wales and Cambridge University. They were endowed by Sir Montague Maurice Burton who founded the high street store, Burton.

Professor Thomason retired in 1984 but remained academically active. He also maintained his arbitration work and took on new opportunities. Following the merger of the University College of Wales, Cardiff with the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) in 1988 (the modern day Cardiff University), Professor Thomason joined the University Council (having previously served on the UCC council from 1974 to 1980). He served the University Council until 2000.

Given Professor Thomason’s expertise and academic excellence, he became an important figure in arbitration and was an ACAS (Arbitration and Conciliation Service) arbitrator before it existed in its current form (it was the Department for Employment). During this time he was a member of the Pay Review Panels for Doctors, Dentists, Nurses and Midwives. He was awarded a CBE  in 1982 for his work.

In addition to this work, Professor Thomason was Chief Examiner for the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPD) and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He was also involved in a number of charities.

The School sends its deepest sympathy and condolences to Professor Thomason’s widow, Mrs Jean Thomason, and to his family, friends and former colleagues.