James Mawdsley (trade unionist)
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James Mawdsley (9 January 1848 – 4 February 1902) was an English trade unionist. Alongside Winston Churchill, he stood as a Conservative Party candidate in the double Oldham by-election of 1899. He was born in Preston, Lancashire, to cotton spinner James Mawdsley and his wife, Jane.[1]
From the age of 9, the young James worked in a cotton mill as a "half-timer" (he spent half the working day in the mill and half at school).[2] By the age of 16, he was working full-time.
In 1871, Mawdsley married Ann Wright, and they had seven children together. In 1878, he became the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners.[1] At the time, cotton spinners were considered an elite group by other union factions.[3] Shortly after his appointment he led the operatives in south east Lancashire in a strike against a 20% reduction in wages, securing 5% of this back in early 1880. In 1885 south east Lancashire employers sought a 10% reduction in wages. Again compromise was reached and a 5% reduction imposed.[2]
In 1886, the Association worked with the Amalgamated Association of Card and Blowing Room Operatives and the Northern Counties Weavers Amalgamation to form the United Textile Factory Workers Association; the collaboration was brought about because the unions desired to promote legislation. Mawdsley became General Secretary. Under his leadership, the UTFWA was regarded as a sober and moderate union, which was opposed to socialism.[4]
Through much of the 1880s and 1890s, Mawdsley sat on the Trades Union Congress (TUC)'s parliamentary committee and was chairman of the TUC in 1885.[1] Mawdsley was politically active; in line with most other cotton workers but against the majority of trade unionists, Mawdsley was a supporter of the Conservative Party.
In 1895 there was a nascent plan for Mawdsley to stand for Parliament as a Conservative, in conjunction with David Holmes of the Weavers' union as a Liberal, both being regarded as Labour representatives.[5]
In 1899, a double by-election was held in Oldham. Mawdsley was chosen as a candidate, alongside future British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. Mawdsley was unusual as a Conservative Party candidate, who was also heavily involved in trade unions.[6] He was also one of the first trade unionists to be associated with.[6]
Mawdsley died in 1902 at Taunton, Ashton-under-Lyne from complications following an accident. His injuries were sustained by sitting in a china bath and breaking it.[7]
He was buried at Christ Church, Ashton-under-Lyne.[1]
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c d Bythell, Duncan (May 2006). "Mawdsley, James (1848–1902)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/34951. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
- ^ a b "Mr James Mawdsley". Lancashire Faces & Places. 1 (5): 71–72. May 1901.
- ^ Howell (1984), p. 54.
- ^ Frank Bealey and Henry Pelling, "Labour and Politics 1900–1906", Macmillan, 1958, p. 99.
- ^ Bealey and Pelling (1958), p. 17.
- ^ a b Wrigley (2002), p. 257.
- ^ Jenkins, Roy (2001). Churchill. Pan. p. 47. ISBN 0-330-48805-8.
- Bibliography
- Howell, David (1984). British Workers and the Independent Labour Party, 1888–1906. Manchester: Manchester University Press ND. ISBN 0-7190-1791-2.
- Wrigley, Chris (2002). Winston Churchill: A Biographical Companion. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 0-87436-990-8.