Jack Eccles

Who is Jack Eccles?

Jack Fleming Eccles was a British trade unionist.

Eccles was born in Heaton Moor and grew up in Chorlton, then studied at the University of Manchester. During World War II, he served with the 14th Army in Burma. In 1948, he took employment as an organiser with the National Union of General and Municipal Workers. He also served as a Labour Party member of Manchester City Council. In 1966, he became the Lancashire regional secretary of the union.

In 1973, Eccles joined the council of the Trades Union Congress, and in 1980, he was awarded the CBE. He served as President of the TUC in 1985, during which time he opposed the UK miners strike. He retired the following year.