John Herbert Sebastian Skinner (5 September 1861[1] – 2 June 1934) was a British trade unionist.

Skinner was born in Tiverton in Devon.[2] He was living with a 27-year-old aunt prior to his 10th birthday.[3] He worked as a compositor and moved to Kingston-upon-Hull to work at a newspaper there. He became involved with the Typographical Association, and in 1894 became its full-time National Organiser. From this post, he was promoted to Assistant General Secretary, then in 1900 was elected as its General Secretary.[4]

During his time as General Secretary, Skinner devoted much effort to building links with other unions. He represented the Typographical Association to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), serving for a time on the General Council of the TUC,[4] and in 1908 being chosen as its delegate to the American Federation of Labour. He also served on the Joint Industrial Council and Printing and Kindred Trades Federation.[4]

Skinner resigned from his trade union posts around the start of 1933, due to poor health, and died 18 months later in Manchester.[4][5]


References

  1. ^ Devon, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1920
  2. ^ 1901 England Census
  3. ^ 1871 England Census
  4. ^ a b c d Trades Union Congress, Report of the 1934 Trades Union Congress, p.213
  5. ^ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995
Trade union offices Preceded byA. Jones General Secretary of the Typographical Association 1900 – 1933 Succeeded byJohn Fletcher Preceded byJohn Hodge and David Shackleton Trades Union Congress representative to the American Federation of Labour 1908 With: John Wadsworth Succeeded byJ. R. Clynes and Alfred Henry Gill Preceded byNew position Printing and Paper Group member of the General Council of the Trades Union Congress 1921 – 1933 Succeeded byGeorge Isaacs
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