James Rowan (7 October 1871 – 5 January 1944)''England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995'' 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. Born in

Rochdale Rochdale ( ) is a town in Greater Manchester, England, and the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. In the United Kingdom 2021 Census, 2021 Census, the town had a population of 111,261, compared to 223,773 for the wid ...

,''The Labour Who's Who'' (1924), p.146 Rowan began working at the age of ten, then later became an armature winder in

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

, before travelling the UK working as an electrician.James Lloyd, ''Light and Liberty: the history of the EETPU'', pp.56-69 He joined the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) in 1897, and was elected as its

Salford Salford ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in Greater Manchester, England, on the western bank of the River Irwell which forms its boundary with Manchester city centre. Landmarks include the former Salford Town Hall, town hall, ...

branch secretary in 1899. Rowan was a delegate to the

Manchester and Salford Trades Council The Manchester Trades Union Council brings together trade union branches in Manchester in England. History Efforts to bring trade unionists together across Manchester go back to the eighteenth century. In 1818 the cotton spinners persuaded oth ...

from 1900, and was a founder member of the Labour Representation Committee in the city. In 1904, he was appointed as full-time National Organiser of the ETU, and in three years managed to increase membership from 1,000 to 1,500. In May 1907, Alfred Ewer, the union's general secretary, disappeared, and was later found to have emigrated to Australia, having embezzled £144 of union funds. Rowan was appointed as acting general secretary and won an election for the permanent post in July 1907. Rowan was 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 ...

(TUC) in 1921, serving until 1935. In 1933, he was a TUC delegate to the American Federation of Labour, and he represented the TUC at the

International Labour Organization The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards. Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is one of the firs ...

on five occasions.''Report of the 1944 Annual Trades Union Congress'', p.192 He also served on the council of the

Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU), often known as the Confed is a trade union confederation in the United Kingdom. History The confederation was founded in December 1890 as the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuil ...

,James Lloyd, ''Light and Liberty: the history of the EETPU'', pp.273-275 and various Joint Industrial Councils. Rowan ultimately served until 1941. He oversaw rapid growth in the union; from 1,500 members in 1907, it grew to more than 80,000 on his retirement. The early 1920s proved a difficult time for the union, and he negotiated a merger with the

Transport and General Workers' Union The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU or T&G) was one of the largest general union, general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland—where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union (ATGWU)—with 900 ...

, but this was rejected by the membership. He became known for his

anti-communism Anti-communism is Political movement, political and Ideology, ideological opposition to communism, communist beliefs, groups, and individuals. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, and it reached global ...

but, despite this, members of the

Communist Party of Great Britain The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was the largest communist organisation in Britain and was founded in 1920 through a merger of several smaller Marxist groups. Many miners joined the CPGB in the 1926 general strike. In 1930, the CPGB ...

became increasingly prominent in the union.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowan, Jimmy 1871 births 1944 deaths General secretaries of the Electrical Trades Union (United Kingdom) Members of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress People from Rochdale