Alexander Walkden, 1st Baron Walkden facts for kids
Alexander George Walkden, 1st Baron Walkden (born May 11, 1873 – died April 25, 1951) was an important British leader. He worked with trade unions and was a Labour Party politician.
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What is a Trade Union?
A trade union is a group of workers who join together. They do this to protect their rights and improve their working conditions. Think of it like a team that speaks up for its members. Unions help workers get fair pay, safe workplaces, and good benefits.
Walkden's Work in Trade Unions
In 1906, Alexander Walkden became the leader of the Railway Clerks' Association. This union is now known as the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA). When he started, the union was not very strong.
Walkden was a very skilled leader. He was also a socialist, which means he believed in fairness for everyone. Over 30 years, he helped the union grow a lot. It became a respected group that had a big say in the Labour Party and other trade unions.
He also helped create the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF). This group helps transport workers all over the world. Walkden was the longest-serving leader of the RCA/TSSA union. He led them for three decades, from 1906 to 1936.
Later, the union built a new main office in London. They named it Walkden House to honor him. This shows how important he was to the union.
Walkden's Time in Politics
Walkden also wanted to help people through politics. He tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) several times. An MP is a person elected to speak for their area in the UK Parliament.
He ran for Parliament in Wolverhampton West in 1918 and 1922, but he did not win. He also tried in Heywood and Radcliffe in 1924.
Finally, in 1929, he was elected as an MP for Bristol South. Even when he was sick, he worked hard. He pushed for a new law to create London Transport. This was a big goal for his union.
He lost his seat in 1931, but he kept fighting for the London Transport law. It was passed in 1933. Walkden was re-elected for Bristol South in 1935. He stayed an MP until 1945.
After leaving the House of Commons, he was given a special title. On July 9, 1945, he became Baron Walkden. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords, which is another part of the UK Parliament. He served there until 1949.
Later Life
Lord Walkden passed away in April 1951. He was 77 years old. Since he did not have children to inherit his title, the title of Baron Walkden ended with him.
