Robert Williams (trade union leader)
Encyclopedia
Robert Williams was a British
trade union
organiser.
He was born in Swansea
, Wales
, and began his working life as a coal trimmer
at the docks. He became active in his union, the National Amalgamated Labourers' Union
, at the age of 16 and eventually became its president. He went on to serve as the secretary of the National Transport Workers' Federation
after its foundation in 1910 and became best known for his work with that body. He was also active within the Labour Party
, the General Council of the Trades Union Congress
and other organisations. In 1920 he was part of a deputation of British trade unionists who travelled to Moscow
for talks on the founding of a new trade union international, which was formed the following year as the Red International of Labour Unions
. Williams also played a prominent role in establishing the Amalgamated Marine Workers' Union
in 1922 as an NTWF-sponsored rival to Havelock Wilson's shipowner-friendly National Union of Seamen
. Williams was widely regarded as a left-winger, but his reputation suffered after the débacle of Black Friday
which led to accusations of having betrayed the miners. In the 1920s, Williams was a Director of the Daily Herald.
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...
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...
organiser.
He was born in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and began his working life as a coal trimmer
Coal trimmer
A coal trimmer is an occupation involving the positioning of boats to be loaded with coal. It may also involve the spreading of coal evenly using a shovel inside the hold of a ship....
at the docks. He became active in his union, the National Amalgamated Labourers' Union
National Amalgamated Labourers' Union
The National Amalgamated Labourers' Union was a trade union in the United Kingdom. It merged with the Transport and General Workers' Union in 1922.-See also:* List of trade unions* Transport and General Workers' Union* TGWU amalgamations...
, at the age of 16 and eventually became its president. He went on to serve as the secretary of the National Transport Workers' Federation
National Transport Workers' Federation
The National Transport Workers' Federation was an association of British trade unions. It was formed in 1910 to co-ordinate the activities of various organisations catering for dockers, seamen, tramwaymen and road transport workers...
after its foundation in 1910 and became best known for his work with that body. He was also active within 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...
, 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...
and other organisations. In 1920 he was part of a deputation of British trade unionists who travelled to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
for talks on the founding of a new trade union international, which was formed the following year as the Red International of Labour Unions
Profintern
The Red International of Labor Unions , commonly known as the Profintern, was an international body established by the Communist International with the aim of coordinating Communist activities within trade unions...
. Williams also played a prominent role in establishing the Amalgamated Marine Workers' Union
Amalgamated Marine Workers' Union
The Amalgamated Marine Workers' Union was a trade union of sailors, firemen and ship-board service personnel which existed in the United Kingdom between 1922 and 1926....
in 1922 as an NTWF-sponsored rival to Havelock Wilson's shipowner-friendly 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...
. Williams was widely regarded as a left-winger, but his reputation suffered after the débacle of Black Friday
Black Friday (1921)
Black Friday, in British labour history, refers to 15 April 1921, when the leaders of transport and rail unions announced a decision not to call for strike action in support of the miners...
which led to accusations of having betrayed the miners. In the 1920s, Williams was a Director of the Daily Herald.