Percy Bengough (1883-10 August 1972) was an English-Canadian

machinist A machinist is a tradesperson or trained professional who not only operates machine tools, but also has the knowledge of tooling and materials required to create set ups on machine tools such as milling machines, grinders, lathes, and drilling ...

and trade union leader. Born in 1883 in London, England, Bengough emigrated to Canada in 1905. Employed as a machinist, he was active in labour unions, including the Amalgamated Society of Engineers and, beginning in 1916, the International Association of Machinists. From 1921 to 1942, Bengough served as secretary of the secretary of the Vancouver Trades and Labor Council. In 1931, he was elected vice president of Trades and Labor Congress of Canada before being elected TLC president from 1943 to 1954. In 1956, he successfully supported the merge of the TLC and its former competitor, the

Canadian Labour Congress The Canadian Labour Congress, or CLC (french: Congrès du travail du Canada, link=no or ) is a national trade union centre, the central labour body in Canada to which most Canadian labour unions are affiliated. History Formation The CLC was ...

. In 1949, he was one of the founders of the anti-communist International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and served on its served executive board. In politics, he was a moderate with close ties to the

Liberal Party of Canada The Liberal Party of Canada (french: Parti libéral du Canada, region=CA) is a federal political party in Canada. The party espouses the principles of liberalism,McCall, Christina; Stephen Clarkson"Liberal Party". ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' ...

. He also supported the creation of Canadian unions rather than the more common process of Canadian unions affiliating with an existing union based in the United States.

References

1883 births 1972 deaths British emigrants to Canada People from Vancouver Presidents of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada Trade unionists from British Columbia Trade unionists from London {{Canada-bio-stub