Reg Birch
Encyclopedia
Reg Birch was a British
Maoist trade unionist.
Born in Kilburn, Birch became a toolmaker and joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU). He became active in the union and also in supporting the Republican government of Spain against the fascist invasion and coup (see Spanish Civil War
). He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain
(CPGB) in 1938.
In 1941, Birch worked with Wal Hannington
to organise a strike
at a firm in Stonebridge
. This action was illegal under wartime regulations, but the two were merely bound over to keep the peace. Soon after, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, and the CPGB opposed wartime strike action. Throughout the war, Birch continued to organise his workmates in a succession of factories.
In 1956, Birch was elected to the executive committee of the CPGB, and in 1960, he was elected as a full-time AEU official. The union was soon renamed the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers, and in 1966, Birch was elected to its executive. Birch challenged William Carron
for the leadership on two occasions. On the second, the CPGB supported Hugh Scanlon
's candidature over his. Increasingly at odds with the revisionists of the CPGB, Birch left the party soon afterwards, and with other comrades from the AEU, formed the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist)
(CPB (M-L)) in 1968.
Birch continued to support various strikes, including the Ford strike, 1971. He met Mao Zedong
and Zhou Enlai. In 1975, he was elected to the general council of the Trades Union Congress
, the only Maoist to hold such a post. In 1977, he became a member of the Energy Commission. He retired in 1979, but remained chairman of the CPB (M-L) until 1985.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Maoist trade unionist.
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
). He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
(CPGB) in 1938.
In 1941, Birch worked with Wal Hannington
Wal Hannington
Walter "Wal" Hannington was a founding member of the Communist Party of Great Britain and National Organiser of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement, from its formation in 1921 to its end in 1939, when he became National Organiser of the Amalgamated Engineering Union.-Political career:In...
to organise a strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
at a firm in Stonebridge
Stonebridge
-Places:*Stonebridge, Essex, a hamlet in Essex, United Kingdom*Stonebridge, London, an area in northwest London, United Kingdom*Stonebridge, Norfolk, a village in Norfolk, United Kingdom...
. This action was illegal under wartime regulations, but the two were merely bound over to keep the peace. Soon after, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, and the CPGB opposed wartime strike action. Throughout the war, Birch continued to organise his workmates in a succession of factories.
In 1956, Birch was elected to the executive committee of the CPGB, and in 1960, he was elected as a full-time AEU official. The union was soon renamed the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers, and in 1966, Birch was elected to its executive. Birch challenged William Carron
William Carron
Sir William Carron, Baron Carron KSG FRSA was a British trade unionist and activist, who served as President of the Amalgamated Engineering Union from 1956 until 1967.-Early life:...
for the leadership on two occasions. On the second, the CPGB supported Hugh Scanlon
Hugh Scanlon
Hugh Parr Scanlon, Baron Scanlon was a British trade union leader.Scanlon was born in Melbourne, Australia to parents who had emigrated from Britain...
's candidature over his. Increasingly at odds with the revisionists of the CPGB, Birch left the party soon afterwards, and with other comrades from the AEU, formed the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist)
Communist Party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist)
The Communist Party of Britain is a British communist political party. The small party was formed in 1968 by Reg Birch as a split from the Communist Party of Great Britain, siding with the Communist Party of China...
(CPB (M-L)) in 1968.
Birch continued to support various strikes, including the Ford strike, 1971. He met Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
and Zhou Enlai. In 1975, he was elected to 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...
, the only Maoist to hold such a post. In 1977, he became a member of the Energy Commission. He retired in 1979, but remained chairman of the CPB (M-L) until 1985.