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Jim Cooper (c. 1899–1980)

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Jim Cooper (c. 1899-1980) carpenter, trade union leader and Communist activist 

Birth: c. 1899. Marriage: ? Death: 12 May 1980. 

  • A carpenter, in 1941 Cooper became Sydney district secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenter & Joiners. Elected to executive of newly formed Building Workers’ Industrial Union (BWIU) in 1942, he retained the post until retirement in 1967. Was BWIU national president 1953-55.
  • Played important part in organising trade unionism in Papua New Guinea. Published pamphlets and became BWIU research officer.
  • Communist Party of Australia member, became librarian of CPA in Marx House.
  • Following retirement in 1967, moved to South Australia. Socialist Party of Australia member following split, writing articles for the Board of Socialist Information & Research Foundation.

Sources
The Socialist, 21 May 1980; Building Worker, October 1968.

Citation details

'Cooper, Jim (c. 1899–1980)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/cooper-jim-33123/text41302, accessed 27 April 2024.

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