James Anderson (died 13 May 1917) 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. Anderson worked in London as a docker, and he became active in the

Amalgamated Stevedores' Labour Protection League The National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers (NASD), sometimes referred to as the National Amalgamated Stevedores' and Dockers' Society, was a trade union in the United Kingdom. History The union was founded in 1871 as the Labour Protection ...

. He took part in the

London dock strike of 1889 The London dock strike was an industrial dispute involving dock workers in the Port of London. It broke out on 14 August 1889, and resulted in victory for the 100,000 strikers and established strong trade unions amongst London dockers, one of whi ...

, and gained recognition as an able leader. He was soon elected as secretary of the union's Branch 5, one of its largest branches, and also won election to the union's executive council. In the 1890s, Anderson was elected as general secretary of the union. Under his leadership, the union affiliated to the Labour Party and to the General Federation of Trade Unions, and became increasingly supportive of other port-based unions. He became prominent in local politics, winning election to the Poplar

Board of Guardians Boards of guardians were ''ad hoc'' authorities that administered Poor Law in the United Kingdom from 1835 to 1930. England and Wales Boards of guardians were created by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, replacing the parish overseers of the poor ...

, also becoming a founding member of the

Port of London Authority The Port of London Authority (PLA) is a self-funding public trust established on 31 March 1909 in accordance with the Port of London Act 1908 to govern the Port of London. Its responsibility extends over the Tideway of the River Thames and its ...

, and serving on the London Board of Arbitration. Anderson was involved in the creation of the

National Transport Workers' Federation The National Transport Workers' Federation (NTWF) 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. History ...

, in 1910, and became its first general secretary. However, its London members rejected a deal it made in 1911, and when in 1912 it attempted to call a national docks strike, it was a failure, and Anderson chose to stand down. He remained in his post with the stevedores until his death in 1917.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, James Year of birth missing 1917 deaths Trade unionists from London General secretaries of British trade unions