William Walker (trade unionist)
Encyclopedia
William Walker was a prominent Irish
trade unionist.
Born in Belfast
, Walker became a joiner at Harland and Wolff
and quickly became active in the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners
. He was elected as their delegate to Belfast Trades Council in 1892, where he led moves towards new unionism
, organising manual workers in the shipyards, and also female linen workers. He was a founder member of the Independent Labour Party
and spoke in favour of socialism
regularly from Belfast Customs House steps.
In 1904, Walker was elected to Belfast Corporation
, representing Duncairn. In the same year, he served as President of the Irish Trades Union Congress. He stood for the Labour Representation Committee
in Belfast North
at both the 1905 by-election and 1906 general election, losing by fewer than 500 votes on each occasion. In an attempt to counter opposition from the Belfast Protestant Association
, he proclaimed his opposition to Irish home rule. At the 1907 by-election he stood again, but his share of the vote fell back. However, he was elected to the executive of the British Labour Party.
Becoming increasingly well-known in Britain, Walker contested the January 1910 UK general election as the Labour Party candidate for Leith Burghs
, but could only take a distant third place. In 1911, he undertook a debate with James Connolly
in which he argued that Irish socialists should focus their activities on the British labour movement. However, the following year, he took a local government position which required him to withdraw from political activity.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
trade unionist.
Born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Walker became a joiner at Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
and quickly became active in the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners
Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners
The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners was a New Model Trade Union in the 1860s in the United Kingdom, representing carpenters and joiners....
. He was elected as their delegate to Belfast Trades Council in 1892, where he led moves towards new unionism
New Unionism
New Unionism is a term which has been used twice in the history of the labour movement, both times involving moves to broaden the trade union agenda.-1880s:First was the development within the British trade union movement in the late 1880s...
, organising manual workers in the shipyards, and also female linen workers. He was a founder member of the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
and spoke in favour of socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
regularly from Belfast Customs House steps.
In 1904, Walker was elected to Belfast Corporation
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
, representing Duncairn. In the same year, he served as President of the Irish Trades Union Congress. He stood for the Labour Representation Committee
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 Belfast North
Belfast North (UK Parliament constituency)
Belfast North is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in 1922 when, as part of the establishment of the devolved Stormont Parliament for Northern Ireland, the number of MPs in the Westminster Parliament was drastically cut...
at both the 1905 by-election and 1906 general election, losing by fewer than 500 votes on each occasion. In an attempt to counter opposition from the Belfast Protestant Association
Belfast Protestant Association
The Belfast Protestant Association was a populist evangelical political movement in the early 20th-century.The Association was founded in the last years of the 19th-century by Arthur Trew, a former shipyard worker, who had become an evangelical Protestant preacher and made fiercely anti-Catholic...
, he proclaimed his opposition to Irish home rule. At the 1907 by-election he stood again, but his share of the vote fell back. However, he was elected to the executive of the British Labour Party.
Becoming increasingly well-known in Britain, Walker contested the January 1910 UK general election as the Labour Party candidate for Leith Burghs
Leith Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
-References:...
, but could only take a distant third place. In 1911, he undertook a debate with James Connolly
James Connolly
James Connolly was an Irish republican and socialist leader. He was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh, Scotland, to Irish immigrant parents and spoke with a Scottish accent throughout his life. He left school for working life at the age of 11, but became one of the leading Marxist theorists of...
in which he argued that Irish socialists should focus their activities on the British labour movement. However, the following year, he took a local government position which required him to withdraw from political activity.