Reg Birch

Who was Reg Birch?

Reg Birch was a British Maoist trade unionist. Born in Kilburn, Birch became a toolmaker and joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union. He became active in the union and also in supporting the Republican government of Spain against the fascist invasion and coup. He joined the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1938.

In 1941, Birch worked with Wal Hannington to organise a strike at a firm in Stonebridge. This action was illegal under wartime regulations, but the two were merely bound over to keep the peace. Soon after, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, and the CPGB opposed wartime strike action. Throughout the war, Birch continued to organise his workmates in a succession of factories.

In 1956, Birch was elected to the executive committee of the CPGB, following the 1956 invasion of Hungary. Journalist Peter Paterson says:

In 1960, he was elected as a full-time AEU official. The union was soon renamed the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers, and in 1966, Birch was elected to its executive. Birch challenged William Carron for the leadership on two occasions. On the second, the CPGB supported Hugh Scanlon's candidature over his. Increasingly at odds with the revisionists of the CPGB, Birch left the party soon afterwards, and with other comrades from the AEU, formed the Communist Party of Britain in 1968.