Cecil Heap (1902 – 24 March 1967) was a

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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 and politician. The son of Fred Heap, Cecil was born in Bury, then in Lancashire. In 1919, Heap began working for the

Manchester, Salford and District Weavers' Association The Manchester and Salford Weavers' Association was a trade union representing weavers in part of Lancashire, in England. In 1902, a group of women weavers founded the Salford and District Power Loom Weavers' Association. Unlike other local un ...

. In 1925, the union's general secretary died, and Heap beat 26 other applicants in an exam set by the Amalgamated Weavers' Association, to win the post. The union was in decline, but Heap led an organising campaign which doubled its membership in five years, and also improved its finances. He also became active in the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU), and was a leading figure in its organising campaign of the late 1920s. In 1935, Heap moved to become general secretary of the Wallpaper Workers' Union. He followed the policy of his predecessor,

Charles Kean Charles John Kean (18 January 181122 January 1868), was an English actor and theatre manager, best known for his revivals of Shakespearean plays. Life Kean was born at Waterford, Ireland, a son of actor Edmund Kean and actress Mary Kean ('' ...

, of engaging in committees with employers, and avoiding industrial action. Membership grew slowly under his leadership, Arthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.5, pp.65, 78-79

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,
National Union of Wallcoverings, Decorative and Allied Trades
" In 1938, he was elected to the Management Committee of the GFTU, and he served as its chair in 1956 and 1957. Heap was also active in the Labour Party, and served on Bury Town Council. For a period, he was the leader of the Labour group on the council. In his spare time, Heap was a justice of the peace, chair of the governors of Bury Grammar School, and chair of Unsworth Cricket Club. Heap was due to retire in March 1967, but died in hospital a few days before his planned retirement date.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heap, Cecil 1902 births 1967 deaths General secretaries of British trade unions Presidents of the General Federation of Trade Unions (UK) People from Bury, Greater Manchester