Jim Murray (trade unionist)
James G. Murray (died 2006) was a Scottish
Born in
Murray became increasingly active in the USB, initially as a lay official, then from 1962 as a full-time district delegate. He was also elected to the union's executive committee, and spent a period as its chair.[1]
In 1980, Murray stood to become general secretary of the union, by then known as the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers. He topped the first poll, then beat leading communist Barry Williams 1,831 to 1,435 in a run-off. He took up office and was also elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress, but Williams took legal action, claiming that the election had been rigged, and he should be declared the winner. The union's executive investigated, and discovered that some ballots, marked for both candidates, had been forged. As a result, it suspended Murray, appointing Sandy Scott as acting general secretary, while the run-off was held again.[1][2]
On a re-vote, Murray again won election, this time beating Williams by 2,349 votes to 1,970. Williams again took legal action, but a further executive investigation found no issues, and Murray took up the post in October. He completed merger negotiations with the
Williams finally withdrew his legal action in February 1984, despite which he never believed he had lost to Murray. Murray, having found the situation stressful, retired at the end of the year.[1] He died in 2006.[2]