Thomas Charles Lewis (born 12 December 1871) was a British

trade unionist 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 Employee ben ...

and politician. Born in

Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Englan ...

, Lewis attended elementary school before becoming a bricklayer. He moved to

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

in about 1896, when he became involved in the trade union movement and joined the

Bristol Socialist Society The Bristol Socialist Society was a political organisation in South West England South West England, or the South West of England, is one of nine official regions of England. It consists of the counties of Bristol, Cornwall (including the ...

. In 1904, he was elected as treasurer of the local branch of the

Operative Bricklayers' Society The Operative Bricklayers' Society (OBS) was a British New Model Trade Union based in London. History The society was founded in 1818 as the London Bricklayers' Society, but by 1829 had developed into a national operative union. By the 1840s ...

(OBS). He also became active in the Labour Party, for which he was elected to Bristol City Council in 1910, serving until 1920. At the

1918 United Kingdom general election The 1918 United Kingdom general election was called immediately after the Armistice with Germany which ended the First World War, and was held on Saturday, 14 December 1918. The governing coalition, under Prime Minister David Lloyd George, sent ...

, he stood as the party's candidate in Bristol South,''The Labour Who's Who'' (1924), p.131 taking second place with 31.8% of the vote.

F. W. S. Craig Frederick Walter Scott Craig (10 December 1929 – 23 March 1989) was a Scottish psephologist and compiler of the standard reference books covering United Kingdom Parliamentary election results. He originally worked in public relations, compilin ...

, ''British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949'' In 1911, Lewis became president of the Bristol OBS, but resigned from the union in 1914. Instead, he joined the

Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union The Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers Union (DWRGLU), often known as the Dockers' Union, was a British trade union representing dock workers in the United Kingdom. History The union was founded in 1887 as the Tea Operatives and Gen ...

, which was growing rapidly in the city, becoming its full-time Bristol District Organiser. Until 1917, he also served as the secretary of

Bristol Trades Council The Bristol Trades Council is a trades council representing workers in Bristol in England. History The first attempt to form a trades council in Bristol was in 1868, when the Council of Amalgamated Trades was created. However, by the following y ...

. This was a difficult period for the council, which was divided on its approach to

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, ultimately deciding to oppose conscription but otherwise take a neutral position.David Large and Robert Whitefield (1973),
The Bristol Trades Council: 1873–1973
', Bristol Branch of the Historical Association In 1922, the Dockers' Union became part of the new

Transport and General Workers' Union The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU or T&G) was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland – where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union (ATGWU) to differentiate its ...

, Lewis becoming the financial secretary of its number 3 area.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Thomas 1871 births Year of death missing Councillors in Bristol Trade unionists from Bristol Trade unionists from Worcestershire Labour Party (UK) councillors Labour Party (UK) parliamentary candidates Politicians from Worcester, England