Moss Evans

Arthur Mostyn Evans (13 July 1925 – 12 January 2002) was the general secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), then the largest general trade union in the United Kingdom, from 1978 until 1985.^[1]

Biography

Moss Evans was born in a small terraced house in the Welsh village of Cefn Coed near Merthyr Tydfil. When he was 12, his family moved to Small Heath, Birmingham, as his father had heard there was work which he was determined to find. This was towards the end of The Depression and his father, a coal miner, had been out of work for 14 years.^{[citation needed]}

Evans first became involved with trade unions whilst working for the Joseph Lucas combine, where he joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union in 1940 at the age of 15. His long involvement with the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) started ten years later when he changed jobs, and moved to the Bakelite factory in Birmingham, where he became shop steward a year later. His rise through the organisation of the TGWU started in 1956 when he became engineering and chemical officer for the Birmingham East district.^{[citation needed]}

This was followed by;^{[citation needed]}

Birmingham regional trade group secretary 1960–1966
London Engineering National Officer 1966–1969
National Secretary (Automotive Section) 1969–1973
National Organiser 1973–1978
General Secretary 1978–1985

also^{[citation needed]}

Member, Trades Union Congress General Council 1977–1985
Councillor (Labour Party), Borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk 1991–2001
King's Lynn town Mayor 1996–1997

Personal life

He married Laura Bigglestone in 1947; they had three sons and three daughters together. He died in Norfolk on 12 January 2002.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Goodman, Geoffrey (14 January 2002). "MEO". The Guardian. London.

Trade union offices
Preceded by Jack Jones	General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union 1978–1985	Succeeded by Ron Todd
Preceded by Karl Hauenschild	President of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy and General Workers' Unions 1983–1986	Succeeded by Nils Kristoffersson

[MEO-1] Goodman, Geoffrey (14 January 2002). "MEO". The Guardian. London.

[1]

v t e Transport and General Workers' Union
General Secretaries	1922: Ernest Bevin 1940: Arthur Deakin 1955: Jock Tiffin 1955: Frank Cousins 1969: Jack Jones 1978: Moss Evans 1985: Ron Todd 1992: Bill Morris 2004: Tony Woodley
Deputy General Secretaries	1974: Harry Urwin 1980: Alec Kitson 1986: Bill Morris 1992: Jack Adams 1999: Margaret Prosser 2002: Tony Woodley 2003: Jack Dromey
Assistant General Secretaries	1924: John Cliff 1935: Arthur Deakin 1940: Harold Clay 1948: Jock Tiffin 1955: Frank Cousins 1956: Harry Nicholas 1968: Harry Urwin 1974: Vacant 1985: Eddie Haigh and Larry Smith 1988: Eddie Haigh 1991: Vacant 1999: Barry Camfield and Jimmy Elsby 2000: Barry Camfield and Ray Collins
Chairs	1922: Harry Gosling 1930: Herbert Kershaw 1934: Harry Edwards 1948: Edgar Fryer 1960: Len Forden 1976: Stan Pemberton 1982: Walter Greendale 1986: Brian Nicholson 1988: Daniel Duffy 1996: Andy Smith 2002: Peter Landles 2004: Jimmy Kelly
Forerunners	Amalgamated Society of Watermen, Lightermen and Bargemen Amalgamated Carters, Lurrymen and Motormen's Union Amalgamated Association of Carters and Motormen Associated Horsemen's Union Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union Labour Protection League National Amalgamated Labourers' Union National Union of Docks, Wharves and Shipping Staffs National Union of Ships' Clerks, Grain Weighers and Coalmeters National Union of Vehicle Workers National Amalgamated Coal Workers' Union North of England Trimmers' and Teemers Association North of Scotland Horse and Motormen's Association United Vehicle Workers
Other topics	Amalgamations National Transport Workers' Federation Trades Union Congress Transport House Unite