James Browning (died January 1983) 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. Browning began working in a

textile mill Textile Manufacturing or Textile Engineering is a major industry. It is largely based on the conversion of fibre into yarn, then yarn into fabric. These are then dyed or printed, fabricated into cloth which is then converted into useful goods ...

in 1930, based in the mule spinning department. 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 in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

, then in 1946 he returned to his old job. Back in the mill, Browning became increasingly active in his trade union, the Oldham Provincial Card and Blowing Room and Ring Frame Operatives' Association. In 1952 he was elected as the union's assistant secretary, and he succeeded as its general secretary the following year. The union was affiliated to the

Cardroom Amalgamation The Cardroom Amalgamation or Cardroom Workers' Amalgamation (CWA)Joseph L. White, ''The Limits of Trade Union Militancy'', p.240, note 9 was a British trade union which existed between 1886 and 1974. It represented workers in the cotton textil ...

, and Browning was elected as its president in 1964, also becoming president of the United Textile Factory Workers' Association. In 1974, the Cardroom Amalgamation became part of the new Amalgamated Textile Workers' Union, and Browning was elected as its first president. He also served on the management committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions, including a year as its chair. Browning retired from his trade union posts in 1976, becoming part-time chair of the Oldham Area Health Authority.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Browning, Jim Year of birth missing 1983 deaths People from Oldham Presidents of the General Federation of Trade Unions (UK) Presidents of the United Textile Factory Workers' Association Royal Navy sailors