Andrew Conley (18 December 1881[1] – 5 June 1952) was aBritishtrade unionist.
Born inLeeds toIrish parents,[2] Conley fought in theSecond Boer War.[3] He then worked as a garment maker,[2] and became a branch secretary in theAmalgamated Union of Clothiers Operatives, then national organiser of its successor, theUnited Garment Workers' Trade Union.[3]
In 1920, various tailors' trade unions merged to form theNational Union of Tailors and Garment Workers (NUTGW). AlthoughJoseph Young was seen as the obvious choice for its leadership, his health was failing, and he instead supported Conley's successful campaign for the general secretaryship.[3] In post, he focussed on absorbing other unions, arranging mergers with more than 20 before he retired in 1948. He was elected to the General Council of theTrades Union Congress in 1921, and was itsPresident in 1934, where he led centenary commemorations of theTolpuddle Martyrs.[2]
Conley also supported women's trade unionism, encouraging women tailors to become active in the NUTGW,[2] and he was succeeded as general secretary byAnne Loughlin.
| Trade union offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New position | General Secretary of theNational Union of Tailors and Garment Workers 1920–1948 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by New position | Clothing Group representative on theGeneral Council of the TUC 1921 – 1949 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by New position | Chairman of the Trades Councils' Joint Consultative Committee 1925 – 1934 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Trades Union Congress 1934 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Trades Union Congress representative to theAmerican Federation of Labour 1935 With:Andrew Naesmith | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | General Secretary of theInternational Clothing Workers' Federation 1946–1949 | Succeeded by Ian Milner |
