John Swift (trade unionist) facts for kids

John Swift (1896–1990) was an Irish leader for workers' rights and someone who believed that public life should be separate from religious control. He worked hard to improve conditions for many people throughout his life.

John Swift's Early Life

John Swift was born in Dundalk, Ireland. He went to school there. His father ran a bakery that was owned by a group of people working together, but it closed down. This meant his family faced hard times. In 1914, when John was 18, he started learning to be a baker in Dublin. He spent a lot of his free time listening to Jim Larkin, a famous workers' rights leader, speak at meetings.

Starting His Union Journey

John briefly joined the Irish Volunteers, a group of people who wanted Ireland to be independent. However, after an accident, he decided not to rejoin because Jim Larkin was against the group. Instead, John became very active in the Irish National Federal Union of Bakers, a union for bakers. He tried to get his co-workers to join the union. Because of this, he lost his job. It was hard to find work in Ireland, so he had to move to England.

Facing Challenges and War

In England, John worked in a factory that made weapons for the war. While there, he led a strike, which is when workers stop working to demand better conditions. Because of the strike, he faced a military trial and was sent to Wandsworth Prison. He was offered a chance to leave if he joined the British Army, but he refused. This led to him being held alone in a cell. To pass the time, he whistled opera songs. A guard thought these were Irish rebel songs and gave him only bread and water for a week as punishment.

Serving in the Army

Eventually, John agreed to join the Army as a cook who would not fight. But when he found out he would still have to practice with weapons, he refused. He was then moved to a military prison in Aldershot. Finally, in March 1918, he accepted a role as a cook with the King's Own Royal Lancasters regiment. Before the end of that month, he was hurt and had to go to the hospital. He returned to his unit shortly before the end of World War I.

Back to Dublin and New Ideas

In 1919, John left the army and returned to Dublin. He struggled to find steady work, so he moved to Paris for a while. By 1925, he was back in Dublin and once again became involved in working for unions. He started a union orchestra and choir, helping workers enjoy music together.

Helping Bakers Learn

John also started a special school for bakers. This school was very successful and was later taken over by the Dublin Vocational Committee, a local education group. John remained the head of the school until he retired, showing his dedication to helping bakers learn and improve their skills.

Standing Up for New Ideas

At the end of 1933, John Swift was a main person behind starting the Secular Society of Ireland. This group wanted to change several things. For example, they wanted to end the ban on divorce, which was influenced by religious leaders. They also wanted to change the law about censoring books and magazines, and they wanted to change how schools were managed, so they wouldn't be controlled by religious groups. The society believed that people should have choices in these matters.

This was a time when religious groups had a lot of influence. The Secular Society had to move its meetings to private homes outside of town because their meeting place was discovered.

Supporting Spain's Fight

In 1936, a group called the Irish Christian Front was supporting General Franco in the Spanish Civil War. John Swift and other members of the Secular Society, including the writer Mary Manning, decided to close their society. They sent the money they had to the Spanish Government, which was fighting against Franco. John became a founding Vice-Chairman of the Spanish Aid Committee. This committee helped raise support for the Irish volunteers who joined the International Brigade to fight for the Republic in Spain.

Leading the Bakers' Union

In that same year, 1936, John Swift was chosen to be the national organizer for the bakers' union, which was then called the "Irish Bakers, Confectioners and Allied Workers Amalgamated Union." In 1942, he was elected as the General Secretary, which is a very important leadership role. As General Secretary, John oversaw the purchase and setting up of a new main office for the union on Harcourt Street.

Working for All Workers

John was very active in the Dublin Trades Council, a group representing many different unions in Dublin. He took over from Jim Larkin as its president in 1945. He also became the editor of Workers' Action, the council's newspaper. In 1946, he served as president of the Irish Trades Union Congress, which is a major organization for unions across Ireland.

Helping Workers Learn and Connect

During his time as president, John focused on promoting education for workers. This led to the creation of The People's College, a place where workers could continue to learn. He was also important in the International Union of Food and Allied Workers' Association. He worked with Hermann Leuenberger to keep in touch with union members across Europe during World War II and to help people who had to leave their homes because of the war. He later became the president of this international union in 1964.

His Political Views and Later Years

John Swift was a member of the Labour Party from 1927, and he was always known for his left-wing views within the party. In the 1960s, he wrote the party's "Workers' Democracy" policy. In 1973, he surprised many people by supporting Ireland joining the European Economic Community, which is now known as the European Union. John was also a founding member of the Ireland-USSR Society, along with Nora Harkin and others.

John retired from his union jobs in 1967. After retiring, he wrote a book about the history of Irish bakers. He also served as president of the Irish Labour History Society, which studies the history of workers' movements, and continued as president of the Ireland-USSR Society.