Shaftoe, Samuel

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Shaftoe, Samuel

Watercolour portrait of Samuel Shaftoe, Secretary to the Trades and Labour Council, Bradford, by John Sowden

from John Sowden's notebooks:

"Was born at York in 1841 and received his education at a village school near Thirsk. When 11 years of age he went to Hull as an errand boy at a weekly wage of two shillings. At the age of 13 he was apprenticed to the trade of basketmaking for a term of five years. He became associated with the Basket Makers’ Union and when in his 20th year was appointed secretary of the Hull Branch in 1862, and held that position until he came to Bradford in 1865. He left Bradford for about a year owing to a strike in his trade but returned in 1886 when the strike was over. He was elected District Secretary of the Yorkshire Union of Skep and Basket Makers in the same year. This office he held until he was elected General Secretary of the union in 1868. Whilst he was secretary he conducted two serious disputes in 1871 and 1873 respectively, securing better wages and the nine hours day. He was a member and president of the Bradford and District Trades Council. He retired when taking over the secretaryship and this latter office he filled for 10 years. He was a familiar delegate at the Trades Union Congress.

In 1891 he was returned to the Town Council for the West Bowling Ward. During the three years he was on the Council he was a zealous advocate of direct employment by the Corporation. Probably the highest recognition accorded to Mr Shaftoe was when in 1892 he was made a Justice of the Peace, being the first working man in this part of the country upon whom the honour was conferred. He took an active part in the organisation of the dyers and the founding of the Woolcombers’ Union. In politics he was a Liberal and a Home Ruler.

He died in 1911 aged 70 years."

Creator

John Sowden

Image filename

sowden-134