William Aucock (1882 – 1937) 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

Burslem Burslem ( ) is one of the six towns that along with Hanley, Tunstall, Fenton, Longton and Stoke-upon-Trent form part of the city of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England. It is often referred to as the "mother town" of Stoke on Trent. T ...

, Aucock completed an apprenticeship as a potter, and became active in trade unionism. He became an organiser for the

National Society of Pottery Workers The Ceramic and Allied Trades Union (CATU) was a trade union representing pottery workers in the United Kingdom. Predecessors The first significant union in the pottery trades was founded in 1827 as the National Union of Operative Potters, affili ...

, and then won election as the union's president. He served on the Management Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions, serving as its chair from 1932 until 1934, and then becoming a trustee of the organisation. Aucock was a supporter of the Labour Party, and in 1921 he was elected to Stoke-on-Trent City Council. One of three councillors sponsored by the Pottery Workers, he took 75% of the vote, making his the safest seat in the city.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aucock, William 1882 births 1937 deaths Councillors in Staffordshire Labour Party (UK) councillors People from Burslem Presidents of the General Federation of Trade Unions (UK) Trade unionists from Staffordshire