Albert Knowles (1885 – July 1953) was a British trade union leader.
Born in Turton, near Bolton, Knowles began working in a cotton mill at the age of eleven, also joining a local union. In 1908, he moved to Oldham and transferred to the Oldham Operative Cotton Spinners' Association.[1] He was elected as the Oldham Spinners' assistant secretary in 1917,[2] then 1936, became its general secretary. Also that year, he was elected to the management committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU). In 1940, he was additionally elected as secretary of the Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners.[3]
From 1943, Knowles served on the Cotton Board, and was also elected to the executive of the British Cotton Growing Association. From 1950 to 1952, he was the chairman of the GFTU.[3]
In his spare time, Knowles was active in the Workers Educational Association, acting as vice-chair of its North West District. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Obituary: Mr Albert Knowles", The Guardian, 11 July 1953
- ^ Quarterly Report of the General Federation of Trade Unions, 21 March 1950, p.13
- ^ a b c Trades Union Congress, "Obituary: Albert Knowles", Annual Report of the 1953 Trades Union Congress, pp.288-289