Ted Hill (trade unionist)
Encyclopedia
Edward James Hill, Baron Hill of Wivenhoe (1899–14 December 1969), known as Ted Hill, was a British
trade unionist.
Born in London
, Hill served with the Royal Marine Engineers during World War I
, joining the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders in 1916. He spent time mending boilers for P&O
, and in his spare time was a wrestler. In 1934, he worked alongside Anuerin Bevan to organise a national hunger march.
By 1939, Hill was the London delegate to the executive committee of the Boilermakers, and in 1948 he was elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress
(TUC). In 1949, he was elected as General Secretary of the union, and soon acquired a reputation as a left-winger, aligned with the Labour Party
but often critical of its policies - a supporter of unilateral disarmament
and generally an opponent of militarism. In 1953, he was censured by the TUC for making a speech contrary to its policies, the first occasion on which the body is known to have censured one of the members of its General Council. During the UK engineering strike, 1957, he famously asked "what's in this productivity for my members?"
In 1961, Hill served as President of the TUC. Following a succession of demarcation dispute
s, Hill led a 1962 merger with two other unions with large presences in shipyard
s, the Associated Blacksmiths, Forge and Smithy Workers' Society and the Shipconstructors and Shipwrights' Association, remaining leader of the renamed "Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers". He also became President of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions
. In 1965, he retired from all his union posts, joining the Central Training Council. Two years later, he accepted a life peerage, taking his title from the town of Wivenhoe
, where he lived in a terraced house
. He died suddenly in late 1969.
After Hill's death, Josef Frolik
claimed that he had been a KGB
informer; Hill's widow strongly denied the claim.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
trade unionist.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Hill served with the Royal Marine Engineers during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, joining the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders in 1916. He spent time mending boilers for P&O
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company
The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, which is usually known as P&O, is a British shipping and logistics company which dated from the early 19th century. Following its sale in March 2006 to Dubai Ports World for £3.9 billion, it became a subsidiary of DP World; however, the P&O...
, and in his spare time was a wrestler. In 1934, he worked alongside Anuerin Bevan to organise a national hunger march.
By 1939, Hill was the London delegate to the executive committee of the Boilermakers, and in 1948 he was elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
(TUC). In 1949, he was elected as General Secretary of the union, and soon acquired a reputation as a left-winger, aligned with the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
but often critical of its policies - a supporter of unilateral disarmament
Unilateral disarmament
Unilateral disarmament is a policy option, to renounce weapons without seeking equivalent concessions from one's actual or potential rivals. It was most commonly used in the twentieth century in the context of unilateral nuclear disarmament, a recurrent objective of peace movements in countries...
and generally an opponent of militarism. In 1953, he was censured by the TUC for making a speech contrary to its policies, the first occasion on which the body is known to have censured one of the members of its General Council. During the UK engineering strike, 1957, he famously asked "what's in this productivity for my members?"
In 1961, Hill served as President of the TUC. Following a succession of demarcation dispute
Demarcation dispute
A demarcation dispute occurs when two labour unions claim the right to represent the same class or group of workers. This is particularly important in compulsory arbitration systems of industrial relations, as in Australia; where only one union may be the registered representative of a particular...
s, Hill led a 1962 merger with two other unions with large presences in shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
s, the Associated Blacksmiths, Forge and Smithy Workers' Society and the Shipconstructors and Shipwrights' Association, remaining leader of the renamed "Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers". He also became President of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions
Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions
The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions is a trade union confederation in the United Kingdom.-History:The confederation was founded in December 1890 as the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades by small craft unions, on the initiative of Robert Knight of the United...
. In 1965, he retired from all his union posts, joining the Central Training Council. Two years later, he accepted a life peerage, taking his title from the town of Wivenhoe
Wivenhoe
Wivenhoe is a town in north eastern Essex, England, approximately south east of Colchester. Historically Wivenhoe village, on the banks of the River Colne, and Wivenhoe Cross, on the higher ground to the north, were two separate settlements but with considerable development in the 19th century the...
, where he lived in a terraced house
Terraced house
In architecture and city planning, a terrace house, terrace, row house, linked house or townhouse is a style of medium-density housing that originated in Great Britain in the late 17th century, where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls...
. He died suddenly in late 1969.
After Hill's death, Josef Frolik
Josef Frolík
Josef Frolík was a Czechoslovak spy who, in 1969, defected to the United States and joined the CIA.-Childhood:Josef Frolík was born in Libušín, Czechoslovakia. He graduated from secondary school at the end of World War II...
claimed that he had been a KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
informer; Hill's widow strongly denied the claim.