Jack Tanner (trade unionist)
Encyclopedia
John Shirley Frederick Tanner (28 April 1889–3 March 1965), known as Jack Tanner, was a British
trade unionist.
Born in Whitstable
, Tanner grew up in London and became a fitter and turner at the age of 14. He joined the Social Democratic Federation
and the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
, soon becoming a prominent activist, and helping found the National Federation of Women Workers. During the 1910s, he was a leading syndicalist, active in the Industrial Syndicalist Education League
, and chaired the First International Syndicalist Congress
.
During World War I
, Tanner worked as an engineer in France and was active in the then-syndicalist Confédération Générale du Travail
. He returned to London in 1917 and became active in the shop stewards' movement, and in 1920 attended the Second Congress of the Communist International. He did join the Communist Party of Great Britain
, but left after only eight months, remaining politically close to it.
Tanner increasingly devoted his time to the trade union movement, and was elected President of the Amalgamated Engineering Union in 1939, serving until 1953 and promoting economic planning
in the engineering industry. Increasingly associated with the right-wing of the union, he served as President of the Trades Union Congress
in 1954, and supported the anti-communist Industrial and Research Information Services from 1956.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
trade unionist.
Born in Whitstable
Whitstable
Whitstable is a seaside town in Northeast Kent, Southeast England. It is approximately north of the city of Canterbury and approximately west of the seaside town of Herne Bay. It is part of the City of Canterbury district and has a population of about 30,000.Whitstable is famous for its oysters,...
, Tanner grew up in London and became a fitter and turner at the age of 14. He joined the Social Democratic Federation
Social Democratic Federation
The Social Democratic Federation was established as Britain's first organised socialist political party by H. M. Hyndman, and had its first meeting on June 7, 1881. Those joining the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury and Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Karl Marx's long-term...
and the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
Amalgamated Society of Engineers
Amalgamated Society of Engineers may refer to one of the following trade unions:* Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union in the United Kingdom, known as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers from 1851 until 1920...
, soon becoming a prominent activist, and helping found the National Federation of Women Workers. During the 1910s, he was a leading syndicalist, active in the Industrial Syndicalist Education League
Industrial Syndicalist Education League
The Industrial Syndicalist Education League was a British syndicalist organisation which existed from 1910 to 1913.In May 1910 Guy Bowman and Tom Mann, two dissident members of the Social Democratic Federation travelled to France visiting members of the syndicalist General Confederation of...
, and chaired the First International Syndicalist Congress
First International Syndicalist Congress
The First International Syndicalist Congress was a meeting of European and Latin American syndicalist organizations at Holborn Town Hall in London from September 27 to October 2, 1913...
.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Tanner worked as an engineer in France and was active in the then-syndicalist Confédération Générale du Travail
Confédération générale du travail
The General Confederation of Labour is a national trade union center, the first of the five major French confederations of trade unions.It is the largest in terms of votes , and second largest in terms of membership numbers.Its membership decreased to 650,000 members in 1995-96 The General...
. He returned to London in 1917 and became active in the shop stewards' movement, and in 1920 attended the Second Congress of the Communist International. He did join the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
, but left after only eight months, remaining politically close to it.
Tanner increasingly devoted his time to the trade union movement, and was elected President of the Amalgamated Engineering Union in 1939, serving until 1953 and promoting economic planning
Economic planning
Economic planning refers to any directing or planning of economic activity outside the mechanisisms of the market, in an attempt to achieve specific economic or social outcomes. Planning is an economic mechanism for resource allocation and decision-making in contrast with the market mechanism...
in the engineering industry. Increasingly associated with the right-wing of the union, he served as President of the Trades Union Congress
President of the Trades Union Congress
The President of the Trades Union Congress is a prominent but largely honorary position in British trade unionism.The President is elected at the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress . They officially fill the office for the remainder of the year and then preside over the following...
in 1954, and supported the anti-communist Industrial and Research Information Services from 1956.