Jack Macgougan
Encyclopedia
Jack Macgougan was a trade unionist and socialist activist in Ireland
.
Born in Belfast
to a Protestant family, Macgougan became an active trade unionist at an early age, and joined the Socialist Party of Northern Ireland, a Northern Ireland Labour Party
-affiliate split from the Independent Labour Party
(NILP). He stood for the NILP in Belfast Oldpark
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1938
, taking second place, with 40.8% of the vote. In 1945, he was appointed Irish Regional Organiser of the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
(NUTGW).
Macgougan was Chair of the NILP in 1945–1946, but became unhappy with its increasingly unionist stance. He supported the establishment of the Irish Labour Party in Northern Ireland in 1949, and was elected to Belfast City Council
. He later stood unsuccessfully for the party in South Down
at the 1950 UK general election, and Belfast Falls
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1953
. He lost his council seat in 1958. That year, he served as President of the Irish Trades Union Congress while, in 1965, he was President of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions. In 1969, he became General Secretary of the UK-wide NUTGW, and also served on the General Council of the British Trades Union Congress
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
to a Protestant family, Macgougan became an active trade unionist at an early age, and joined the Socialist Party of Northern Ireland, a Northern Ireland Labour Party
Northern Ireland Labour Party
The Northern Ireland Labour Party was an Irish political party which operated from 1924 until 1987.In 1913 the British Labour Party resolved to give the recently formed Irish Labour Party exclusive organising rights in Ireland...
-affiliate split from the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
(NILP). He stood for the NILP in Belfast Oldpark
Belfast Oldpark (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Oldpark was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Oldpark was a borough constituency comprising part of northern Belfast...
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1938
Northern Ireland general election, 1938
-References:*...
, taking second place, with 40.8% of the vote. In 1945, he was appointed Irish Regional Organiser of the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
The National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded as the Tailors and Garment Workers' Union in 1920 with the merger of the Scottish Operative Tailors and Tailoresses' Association and the United Garment Workers' Union...
(NUTGW).
Macgougan was Chair of the NILP in 1945–1946, but became unhappy with its increasingly unionist stance. He supported the establishment of the Irish Labour Party in Northern Ireland in 1949, and was elected to Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
. He later stood unsuccessfully for the party in South Down
South Down (UK Parliament constituency)
South Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The county constituency was first created in 1885 from the southern part of Down...
at the 1950 UK general election, and Belfast Falls
Belfast Falls (Northern Ireland Parliament constituency)
Belfast Falls was a constituency of the Parliament of Northern Ireland.-Boundaries:Belfast Falls was a borough constituency comprising part of western Belfast...
at the Northern Ireland general election, 1953
Northern Ireland general election, 1953
-References:*...
. He lost his council seat in 1958. That year, he served as President of the Irish Trades Union Congress while, in 1965, he was President of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions. In 1969, he became General Secretary of the UK-wide NUTGW, and also served on the General Council of the British Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
.