Jim Mortimer (politician)
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" E. Mortimer is a British politician.
Mortimer's early career was in the shipbuilding and engineering industries where he worked as a ship fitter apprentice, a machinist and a planning engineer. He studied as a TUC Scholar at Ruskin College
, Oxford
in 1945 and 1946 and worked at the TUC Economic Department from 1946 to 1948 and again from 1948 to 1968.
He was a trade union member of the National Board for Prices and Incomes between 1968 and 1971, and at the same time he was the Director of the London Co-operative Society. From 1971 to 1974, he was a member of the Board of London Transport Executive
. He had been a national official of the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen, later to become part of the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union (MSF) and now contained within Unite
. He was the first Chairman of Acas
from 1974 until 1981.
Mortimer was General Secretary of the Labour Party
between 1982 and 1985, a time of great turmoil in the Labour Party with the rise of the SDP
and the Militant Tendency
threatening to split the party apart. He played a notable role in the miners' strike of 1984 and 1985
, throwing himself into support for the miners and being given honorary membership of the NUM in recognition of his efforts.
He has written several books, including a three volume history of the boilermakers' union
.
Mortimer's early career was in the shipbuilding and engineering industries where he worked as a ship fitter apprentice, a machinist and a planning engineer. He studied as a TUC Scholar at Ruskin College
Ruskin College, Oxford
Ruskin College is an independent educational institution in Oxford, England. It is named after the essayist and social critic John Ruskin and specialises in providing educational opportunities for adults with few or no qualifications...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1945 and 1946 and worked at the TUC Economic Department from 1946 to 1948 and again from 1948 to 1968.
He was a trade union member of the National Board for Prices and Incomes between 1968 and 1971, and at the same time he was the Director of the London Co-operative Society. From 1971 to 1974, he was a member of the Board of London Transport Executive
London Transport Executive
The London Transport Executive was the organisation responsible for public transport in the Greater London area, UK, between 1948-1962. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-Creation:On 1...
. He had been a national official of the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen, later to become part of the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union (MSF) and now contained within Unite
Unite the Union
Unite – the Union, known as Unite, is a British and Irish trade union, formed on 1 May 2007, by the merger of Amicus and the Transport and General Workers' Union...
. He was the first Chairman of Acas
Acas
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is a Crown non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom. Its purpose is to improve organisations and working life through the promotion and facilitation of strong industrial relations practice...
from 1974 until 1981.
Mortimer was General Secretary of 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...
between 1982 and 1985, a time of great turmoil in the Labour Party with the rise of the SDP
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
and the Militant Tendency
Militant Tendency
The Militant tendency was an entrist group within the British Labour Party based around the Militant newspaper that was first published in 1964...
threatening to split the party apart. He played a notable role in the miners' strike of 1984 and 1985
UK miners' strike (1984–1985)
The UK miners' strike was a major industrial action affecting the British coal industry. It was a defining moment in British industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the British trades union movement...
, throwing himself into support for the miners and being given honorary membership of the NUM in recognition of his efforts.
He has written several books, including a three volume history of the boilermakers' union
Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers
The Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded in 1852, when the Scottish Society of Boilermakers, the United Friendly Boilermakers' Society and the Amicable and Provident Society of Journeymen...
.