T. A. Flynn

Terence A. Flynn (1858 – 8 July 1925) was an Irish trade unionist.

Born in Ireland, Flynn began working at the age of twelve. He completed an apprenticeship as a tailor, then moved to Scotland to find work, and later on to London. While in London, he joined the Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Tailors, and gradually rose to prominence, taking a leading role in the strike of 1891.^[1] He married the daughter of Peter Shorrocks, first General Secretary of the union.^[2]

In 1893, Flynn was appointed as the union's London District Secretary, succeeding James MacDonald, and also took a place on the Executive Council. George Keir, the General Secretary of the union, died later in the year, and Flynn was elected to the vacant office.^[1] Under his leadership, the union began accepting women as members and changed its name to the "Amalgamated Society of Tailors and Tailoresses". The union's membership increased, despite MacDonald leading a split in 1905.^[3]

While General Secretary, Flynn represented the union at the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and served on the Parliamentary Committee of the TUC in 1916/17. He died, still in office, in 1925.^[1]

References

1. 1 2 3 Annual Report of the 1925 Trades Union Congress, p.350
2. ↑ Anne J. Kershen, Uniting the Tailors
3. ↑ Arthur Marsh, Victoria Ryan and John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.5, pp.427-428