 As general secretary, Basnett pursued a campaign of centralisation, aimed to increase participation, and conducted numerous mergers with smaller unions, the NUGMW changing its name twice under his leadership, becoming the "General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union" in 1982.He served as President of the TUC in 1978, and was also on the National Enterprise Board and the National Economic Development Council.In 1979, Basnett founded Trade Unionists for a Labour Victory, and spent much of the next decade promoting conference between trade union and Labour Party members.