Alexander Hutchison (1864 – 1928) was a Scottish

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

leader who served as chair of the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU). Born in

Falkirk Falkirk ( gd, An Eaglais Bhreac, sco, Fawkirk) is a large town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire. It lies in the Forth Valley, northwest of Edinburgh and northeast of Glasgow. Falkirk had a ...

, Hutchison began working at the age of eight, later becoming an iron moulder. An early member of the National Union of Stove Grate and General Metal Workers, he became secretary of his local branch in 1893. He also joined the

Independent Labour Party The Independent Labour Party (ILP) was a British political party of the left, established in 1893 at a conference in Bradford, after local and national dissatisfaction with the Liberals' apparent reluctance to endorse working-class candidates ...

, and became a vocal advocate of

women's suffrage Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...

. In 1908, Hutchison became a full-time organiser for the Stove Grate Workers, and then in 1909 was elected as the union's general secretary. Relocated to

Rotherham Rotherham () is a large minster and market town in South Yorkshire, England. The town takes its name from the River Rother which then merges with the River Don. The River Don then flows through the town centre. It is the main settlement of ...

, he became active in the local Labour Party, being elected to the town council in 1916, and chairing the local Labour Party from 1918. Also in 1918, he was elected as chair of the National Federation of Foundry Unions, and in 1921 he was elected to the Management Committee of the GFTU. Hutchison served as chair of the GFTU from 1926 to 1928, when he died suddenly.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hutchison, Alex 1864 births 1928 deaths Councillors in South Yorkshire General secretaries of British trade unions Presidents of the General Federation of Trade Unions (UK) Labour Party (UK) councillors People from Falkirk Scottish trade unionists