Edwin Coulson

Edwin Coulson (died 1893) was a British trade unionist.

Coulson came to prominence as the leader of the Operative Bricklayers' Society, serving as its from 1860 to 1891.^[1] One of the best known trade unionists in London, he was a member of the "Junta", alongside Robert Applegarth, William Allan, Daniel Guile and George Odger. This consisted of a small committee which aimed to cautiously advance the cause of trade unionism.^[2]

Although Coulson was a radical, and encouraged his union to support candidates in elections who were in favour of Parliamentary reform or represented the labour movement, he was opposed to any formal political involvement by trade unions.^[3] During the 1860s, this brought him into conflict with George Howell, who was a leading member of the Bricklayers' council.^[4] Coulson did pledge his union's support for the Reform League,^[5] and even served on the council of the International Workingmen's Association in 1865/6.^[6]

Coulson devoted much of his time to running his trade union. When the treasurer of the Shoreditch branch absconded with its funds, he organised a search for the individual, and once he was captured, Coulson placed adverts informing the public of the prison sentence he had received.^[7]

Coulson was also a member of the London Trades Council and of the Trades Union Congress, and served as President of the TUC in 1881. He used his presidential address to denounce wars resulting from British imperialism.^[8]

References

1. "Friendly Society of Operative Stonemasons of England, Ireland and Wales", Trade Union Ancestors
2. H. E. Musson, Trade Union and Social Studies, p.35
3. Iorwerth Prothero, Radical Artisans in England and France, 1830-1870, p.98
4. "The Selected Papers of George Howell, 1833-1910
5. Margot Finn, After Chartism: Class and Nation in English Radical Politics 1848-1874, p.247
6. Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, Collected Works, Vol.20, p.521
7. Historical Studies in Industrial Relations, nos.5-6, p.50
8. Histoire Sociale, nos.23-24, p.131