Alfred Clarence Dann (11 March 1893 – 16 January 1953) 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. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

leader.

Biography

Dann grew up in

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

and attended the West Square High Grade School, before becoming a lawyer's clerk. He briefly served in the British Army during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, but was soon instead posted as an agricultural worker in East Anglia."Obituary: Alfred Dann", ''Annual Report of the 1953 Trades Union Congress'', p.288 Inspired by his experiences, he decided to devote his life to agricultural trade unionism and, in 1919, secured work as the head of the legal department of the

National Union of Agricultural Workers The National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers (NUAAW) was a trades union representing farmworkers in the United Kingdom. The Union was founded in 1906 by trade union activist George Edwards. It was dissolved in 1982 when it merged into ...

(NUAW). In 1928, Dann became chief of staff at the NUAW headquarters. He remained in the post until 1945, when he was elected as general secretary of the union. He was also elected to the

General Council of the Trades Union Congress The General Council of the Trades Union Congress is an elected body which is responsible for carrying out the policies agreed at the annual British Trades Union Congresses (TUC). Organisation The council has 56 members, all of whom must be proposed ...

, and served on the Central Wages Board, and the executive of the International Land Workers' Federation. He died, still in office, early in 1953.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dann, Alf 1893 births 1953 deaths British Army personnel of World War I General secretaries of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers Members of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress People from Southwark