Henry George John Brotherton (3 December 1890 – December 1980) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

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. Born in Camberwell,

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, Brotherton completed an apprenticeship as a

sheet metal Sheet metal is metal formed into thin, flat pieces, usually by an industrial process. Sheet metal is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and it can be cut and bent into a variety of shapes. Thicknesses can vary significantly; ex ...

worker. He joined the

National Union of Sheet Metal Workers and Braziers The National Union of Sheet Metal Workers, Coppersmiths, Heating and Domestic Engineers was a trade union in the United Kingdom and Ireland. History The union was founded in July 1920 as the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers and Braziers wit ...

in the final year of his apprenticeship, the earliest point at which he was eligible to do so. He was elected to the executive of the London District in 1923, serving a single year, and during the

1926 UK general strike The 1926 general strike in the United Kingdom was a general strike that lasted nine days, from 4 to 12 May 1926. It was called by the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in an unsuccessful attempt to force the British governm ...

, took the lead on paying benefits to union members in North London. He was re-elected to the district executive in 1927, and then in 1929 became the union's full-time London District Secretary. Brotherton also served on his union's National Executive Committee, and in 1934/35 was its General President. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, he served on several government committees, and in 1941 he was elected as the union's Assistant General Secretary. Two years later, he became the union's General Secretary. He also served as President of the

Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU), often known as the Confed is a trade union confederation in the United Kingdom. History The confederation was founded in December 1890 as the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuil ...

from 1948 until 1958, served on the Railway Shopmen's National Council, Engineering Advisory Council, and chaired the Gas Industry Negotiating Committee for Craftsmen. In the

1949 New Year Honours The 1949 New Year Honours were appointments by many of the Commonwealth realms of King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced in supplements to the '' London ...

, Brotherton was made a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

. He died in 1980 following his 90th birthday.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brotherton, Harry 1890 births 1980 deaths General Secretaries of the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers, Coppersmiths, Heating and Domestic Engineers People from Camberwell Trade unionists from London