Larry Smith (trade unionist)

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Lawrence Joseph Smith OBE (25 June 1923 – 29 July 2005) was a British trade union leader.

Smith served in the British Army during World War II. Demobbed in 1947, he began working for London Transport, and also joined the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU). He became a full-time district officer for the union in 1961, London District Secretary in 1965, and then the National Bus Officer in 1966.^[1] In 1968, he was one of ten candidates for the post of General Secretary, but was not elected.^[2]

Smith's rise in the union continued in 1971, when he became National Secretary of its Passenger Services Group.^[1] In 1977, he again stood for the general secretaryship, placing fourth, behind Moss Evans, John Cousins and Alex Kitson.^[3] Two years later, he became the union's Executive Officer, and he was also elected to serve on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress, and from 1983 he served on the London Transport Board.^[1]

Smith planned to stand for the general secretaryship a third time in 1984, but ultimately endorsed Ron Todd, a fellow left-winger.^[4] He was rewarded the following year with the post of Assistant General Secretary, which he held until his retirement in 1988.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Smith, Lawrence Joseph", Who Was Who
^ "Ten seeking Cousins job", The Times, 4 September 1968
^ Paul Routledge, "Moderate is successor to Mr Jones", The Times, 22 April 1977
^ "TGWU man pulls out", The Guardian, 2 February 1984

External links

Catalogue of Smith's TGWU papers, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick

Trade union offices
Preceded by Post vacant	Assistant General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union 1985–1988 With: Eddie Haigh	Succeeded by Eddie Haigh

v t e Transport and General Workers' Union
General Secretaries	1922: Ernest Bevin 1940: Arthur Deakin 1955: Jock Tiffin 1955: Frank Cousins 1969: Jack Jones 1978: Moss Evans 1985: Ron Todd 1992: Bill Morris 2004: Tony Woodley
Deputy General Secretaries	1974: Harry Urwin 1980: Alec Kitson 1986: Bill Morris 1992: Jack Adams 1999: Margaret Prosser 2002: Tony Woodley 2003: Jack Dromey
Assistant General Secretaries	1924: John Cliff 1935: Arthur Deakin 1940: Harold Clay 1948: Jock Tiffin 1955: Frank Cousins 1956: Harry Nicholas 1968: Harry Urwin 1974: Vacant 1985: Eddie Haigh and Larry Smith 1988: Eddie Haigh 1991: Vacant 1999: Barry Camfield and Jimmy Elsby 2000: Barry Camfield and Ray Collins
Chairs	1922: Harry Gosling 1930: Herbert Kershaw 1934: Harry Edwards 1948: Edgar Fryer 1960: Len Forden 1976: Stan Pemberton 1982: Walter Greendale 1986: Brian Nicholson 1988: Daniel Duffy 1996: Andy Smith 2002: Peter Landles 2004: Jimmy Kelly
Forerunners	Amalgamated Society of Watermen, Lightermen and Bargemen Amalgamated Carters, Lurrymen and Motormen's Union Amalgamated Association of Carters and Motormen Associated Horsemen's Union Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union Labour Protection League National Amalgamated Labourers' Union National Union of Docks, Wharves and Shipping Staffs National Union of Ships' Clerks, Grain Weighers and Coalmeters National Union of Vehicle Workers National Amalgamated Coal Workers' Union North of England Trimmers' and Teemers Association North of Scotland Horse and Motormen's Association United Vehicle Workers
Other topics	Amalgamations National Transport Workers' Federation Trades Union Congress Transport House Unite

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