In 1913, Fulton was elected as one of three assistant secretaries of AIMS, alongside John Whyte and Robert Smith, with a remit to focus on the new benefits scheme administered by the union. He proved successful, and in August 1918 he was elected as general secretary of the union. He worked closely with the union's president, Tom Bell, and supported the Clyde Workers' Committee, giving strike pay to its members who took industrial action.[1][2][3]
With the end of World War I, employment in the foundries declined, and the union's membership fell. In 1920, AIMS merged with several other unions, to form the National Union of Foundry Workers. Fulton was elected as the union's assistant general secretary, then in 1922 he won election as general secretary. Given the difficult position of the union, he stated that "I do not know whether congratulations or sympathies are most appropriate to anyone elected to the General Secretaryship of a Trade Union at the present time". The CWS Bank extended credit to the union, the journal was put out quarterly rather than monthly, and the union proposed higher contributions and lower benefits to members. This stabilised the union's finances, although membership continued to fall.[1]
Fulton became ill in 1925, but kept his condition secret until his death in May.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abcFryth, H. J.; Collins, Henry (1950). The Foundry Workers. Manchester: Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers.
^ abc"Obituary: Mr James Fulton". Annual Report of the Trades Union Congress: 348. 1925.
^ abThe Labour Who's Who. London: Labour Publishing Company. 1924. p. 57.
james, fulton, trade, unionist, james, fulton, 1868, 1925, scottish, trade, unionist, born, glasgow, fulton, worked, iron, moulder, joining, associated, iron, moulders, scotland, aims, union, also, independent, labour, party, elected, union, executive, council. James Fulton 1868 May 1925 was a Scottish trade unionist Born in Glasgow Fulton worked as an iron moulder joining the Associated Iron Moulders of Scotland AIMS union and also the Independent Labour Party He was elected to the union s executive council and by the early 1910s was its vice chair 1 2 3 In 1913 Fulton was elected as one of three assistant secretaries of AIMS alongside John Whyte and Robert Smith with a remit to focus on the new benefits scheme administered by the union He proved successful and in August 1918 he was elected as general secretary of the union He worked closely with the union s president Tom Bell and supported the Clyde Workers Committee giving strike pay to its members who took industrial action 1 2 3 With the end of World War I employment in the foundries declined and the union s membership fell In 1920 AIMS merged with several other unions to form the National Union of Foundry Workers Fulton was elected as the union s assistant general secretary then in 1922 he won election as general secretary Given the difficult position of the union he stated that I do not know whether congratulations or sympathies are most appropriate to anyone elected to the General Secretaryship of a Trade Union at the present time The CWS Bank extended credit to the union the journal was put out quarterly rather than monthly and the union proposed higher contributions and lower benefits to members This stabilised the union s finances although membership continued to fall 1 Fulton became ill in 1925 but kept his condition secret until his death in May 2 References edit a b c Fryth H J Collins Henry 1950 The Foundry Workers Manchester Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers a b c Obituary Mr James Fulton Annual Report of the Trades Union Congress 348 1925 a b The Labour Who s Who London Labour Publishing Company 1924 p 57 Trade union officesPreceded byJohn Brown General Secretary of the Associated Iron Moulders of Scotland1918 1920 Succeeded byUnion mergedPreceded byNew position Assistant General Secretary of the National Union of Foundry Workers1920 1922 Succeeded byRobert TillingPreceded byAlfred Todd General Secretary of the National Union of Foundry Workers1922 1925 Succeeded byRobert Tilling Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Fulton trade unionist amp oldid 1085174601, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
