Jim Slater (trade unionist)
Encyclopedia
Jim Slater was a British
trade union
leader.
Born in South Shields
, Slater went to sea in 1941, and joined the National Union of Seamen
(NUS). During World War II
, he served in the Merchant Navy
. On one occasion his ship was torpedoed and sank, and in line with practice at the time, his pay was immediately stopped.
In 1960, he became a leading figure in new the National Seamen's Reform Movement, which was active in that year's strike. He was expelled from the industry at the end of the strikes, but continued as a union activist. In order to regain employment in the industry, he had to agree in future to abide by all decision of the union. He stood for the post of General Secretary of the NUS in 1962, but was easily beaten by Bill Hogarth
. In 1964, he became District Secretary for the North East, and joined the union's executive. He was active in the seamen's strike of 1966, during which Harold Wilson
implied he was one of several union activists under communist influence, a charge which Slater rejected.
Slater became Assistant Secretary of the NUS in 1970, and in 1974 he beat Sam McCluskie
to become General Secretary. During this time, he successfully negotiated with the British Shipping Federation to retain a closed shop
. He also convinced the Trades Union Congress
to support the union's policy to refuse to dump nuclear waste at sea, and donated union funds to support the UK miners' strike of 1984-5. In 1986, the union's rules compelled Slater to stand down, and he instead became President of the NUS.
Tom Hadaway
wrote the play "Seafarers" in 1993, based on a true story of Slater being arrested after his Geordie
accent led to him being mistaken for a spy. The play put the action in Florida and had him mistaken for a Russian, but the original event occurred in Canada, and he was mistaken for a Serbo-Croat.
In the last years of his life, Slater was involved in the campaign for a proper investigation of the sinking of the MV Derbyshire
.
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 union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader.
Born in South Shields
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
, Slater went to sea in 1941, and joined the National Union of Seamen
National Union of Seamen
The National Union of Seamen was the principal trade union of merchant seafarers in the United Kingdom from the late 1880s to 1990. In 1990, the union amalgamated with the National Union of Railwaymen to form the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers .- The National Amalgamated...
(NUS). During 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 in the Merchant Navy
Merchant Navy
The Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests of UK-registered ships and their crews. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensign and are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency...
. On one occasion his ship was torpedoed and sank, and in line with practice at the time, his pay was immediately stopped.
In 1960, he became a leading figure in new the National Seamen's Reform Movement, which was active in that year's strike. He was expelled from the industry at the end of the strikes, but continued as a union activist. In order to regain employment in the industry, he had to agree in future to abide by all decision of the union. He stood for the post of General Secretary of the NUS in 1962, but was easily beaten by Bill Hogarth
Bill Hogarth
Bill Hogarth was General Secretary of the National Union of Seamen, elected in 1962.-References:...
. In 1964, he became District Secretary for the North East, and joined the union's executive. He was active in the seamen's strike of 1966, during which Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
implied he was one of several union activists under communist influence, a charge which Slater rejected.
Slater became Assistant Secretary of the NUS in 1970, and in 1974 he beat Sam McCluskie
Sam McCluskie
Sam McCluskie was a British Labour Party politician and trade unionist. He came from Leith in Edinburgh. He followed Albert Booth as Treasurer of the Labour Party from 1984 to 1992. He was general secretary of the National Union of Seamen from 1986 up to the merger which formed the RMT in 1990...
to become General Secretary. During this time, he successfully negotiated with the British Shipping Federation to retain a closed shop
Closed shop
A closed shop is a form of union security agreement under which the employer agrees to hire union members only, and employees must remain members of the union at all times in order to remain employed....
. He also convinced 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...
to support the union's policy to refuse to dump nuclear waste at sea, and donated union funds to support the UK miners' strike of 1984-5. In 1986, the union's rules compelled Slater to stand down, and he instead became President of the NUS.
Tom Hadaway
Tom Hadaway
Tom Hadaway was born in North Shields in North East England. It was in the north-east that he began writing plays based on his experiences and observations of the region...
wrote the play "Seafarers" in 1993, based on a true story of Slater being arrested after his Geordie
Geordie
Geordie is a regional nickname for a person from the Tyneside region of the north east of England, or the name of the English-language dialect spoken by its inhabitants...
accent led to him being mistaken for a spy. The play put the action in Florida and had him mistaken for a Russian, but the original event occurred in Canada, and he was mistaken for a Serbo-Croat.
In the last years of his life, Slater was involved in the campaign for a proper investigation of the sinking of the MV Derbyshire
MV Derbyshire
The MV Derbyshire was an ore-bulk-oil combination carrier built in 1976 by Swan Hunter, as the last in the series of the Bridge-class sextet. She was registered at Liverpool and owned by Bibby Line....
.