Ernest Jones (trade unionist)
Encyclopedia
William Ernest Jones was a British
trade unionist.
Jones worked from the age of 13, initially repairing boots, then as a coal miner in Derbyshire
. In 1918, he transferred to Rossington Colliery in southern Yorkshire
, where he became active in the Yorkshire Miners' Association
(YMA). He was elected to Doncaster Rural District Council for the Labour Party
in 1924, then as checkweighman in 1926, and to the West Riding of Yorkshire
County Council in 1928.
In 1939, Jones won election as general secretary of the YMA, and for part of World War II
he served as Regional Labour Director for the Ministry of Fuel and Power. In 1950, he became Vice-President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), and also gained a seat on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress
. In 1954, he was elected President of the NUM, serving until his retirement in 1960. He was also Secretary of the Miners' International Federation from 1957 to 1960. In retirement, he served on the National Savings Committee. In 1961, he was awarded the CBE.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
trade unionist.
Jones worked from the age of 13, initially repairing boots, then as a coal miner in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. In 1918, he transferred to Rossington Colliery in southern Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, where he became active in the Yorkshire Miners' Association
Yorkshire Miners' Association
The Yorkshire Miners' Association was a British trade union.The union was founded in 1881 with the merger of the South Yorkshire Miners' Association, and the West Yorkshire Miners' Association, agreed only because both organisations were weakened by unsuccessful disputes...
(YMA). He was elected to Doncaster Rural District Council for the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in 1924, then as checkweighman in 1926, and to the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
County Council in 1928.
In 1939, Jones won election as general secretary of the YMA, and for part of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served as Regional Labour Director for the Ministry of Fuel and Power. In 1950, he became Vice-President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), and also gained a seat on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
. In 1954, he was elected President of the NUM, serving until his retirement in 1960. He was also Secretary of the Miners' International Federation from 1957 to 1960. In retirement, he served on the National Savings Committee. In 1961, he was awarded the CBE.