Arthur Deakin

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Arthur Deakin CH CBE PC (1890-1955) was a prominent British trade unionist who was acting general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union from 1940 and then general secretary from 1945 to 1955.

Deakin was born in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire in 1890 but began his working life in a South Wales steel plant. He became an active trade unionist during the First World War and a full-time official in 1919. In 1932, he became national secretary of the General Workers National Trade Group within the TGWU and in 1935 became assistant general secretary. In 1940 he effectively took over the position of general secretary, following the appointment of Ernest Bevin as a cabinet minister. Deakin's period as general secretary was marked by a consolidation of the powers of executive, occasional serious outbreaks of unofficial strike action among union members and a fierce anti-communist line.

He died in office in 1955 and was succeeded by Jock Tiffin.

Political offices
Preceded by John Cliff	Assistant General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union 1935-1945	Succeeded by Harold Clay
Preceded by Ernest Bevin	General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union 1945-1955 (Acting 1940-1945)	Succeeded by Jock Tiffin
Preceded by Alfred Roberts	President of the Trades Union Congress 1952	Succeeded by Tom O'Brien