William Whitefield (4 January 1850 – 21 October 1926) was a British trade unionist.

Born near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Whitefield became a coal miners at the age of ten. He became active in the Northumberland Miners' Association, and served as a checkweighman for seven years, then became a deputy. During this time, he undertook correspondence courses to educate himself.[1]

The newly formed Bristol Miners' Association invited him to become their agent and secretary in 1889, and he took up the post there in June.[2] He proved immediately successful, negotiating a 10% pay increase for union members.[3] He served on the executive of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain (MFGB) on four occasions between 1889 and 1904.[4]

Whitefield was asked to stand as a Liberal-Labour candidate in the 1890 Bristol East by-election, but was unable to finance a candidacy. However, he was elected to Bristol City Council in 1906, representing St George East until 1919. He then became an alderman until his death.[2]

References

  1. ^ Robin Page Arnot, The Miners: 1889-1910, p.106
  2. ^ a b University of the West of England, "Trade unions", Bristol Historical Resource
  3. ^ Peter Carter and John Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, Vol.6, p.486
  4. ^ Robin Page Arnot, The Miners: 1889-1910, p.391
Trade union offices Preceded byNew position Secretary of the Bristol Miners' Association 1889 – 1921 Succeeded byCharles Gill Preceded byCharles Ammon and Ernest Bevin Trades Union Congress representative to the American Federation of Labour 1916 With: Harry Gosling Succeeded byArthur Hayday and John Hill
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