Robert Austin (trade unionist)
Robert Austin (1826 – September 1891) was a
trade unionist
.
Born in
Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) in 1851.[1] In 1863, he was appointed as the Manchester Vacant Bookkeeper for the society, and became known for his honesty and devotion to duty in the post.[2]
By 1882, Austin was the chairman of the
President of the TUC that year.[3]
In 1886, Austin was elected as general secretary of the ASE, defeating John Anderson by 9,956 votes to 9,100.[1] He took up office the following year, and served in the post until his death in 1891.[4]
References
- ^ Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Amalgamated Society of Engineers: Jubilee Souvenir 1901, p.78
- ^ James B. Jeffreys, The story of the engineers, 1800-1945, p.111
- ^ Trades Union Congress, Report of the 1882 Annual Trades Union Congress, p.4
- ^ V. L. Allen, Power in Trade Unions: A Study of Their Organization in Great Britain, p.281