Alex Ferry was born in 1931 in Dalmuir, part of the town of Clydebank on the north bank of the river Clyde, at that time a thriving community built around engineering and shipbuilding. He had an unerring commitment to improving the lives of those working in the engineering and shipbuilding industries, and worked meticulously and ceaselessly to achieve those ends. He became the General Secretary of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU) in 1978.

 

It is widely said that Alex Ferry’s greatest success as a trade unionist was the achievement of a 37-hour working week for shipbuilding and engineering workers. The substantial endowment of the Alex Ferry Foundation comes from the Fund Alex established in 1989 to campaign for a shorter working week for his members.

 

We have very few photographs of Alex Ferry. If you have one you would like to share with us we would be delighted.

Learn more about Alex Ferry, the man behind the name, in our special report