 William Thorne CBE, known as Will, was a leading British trade unionist and activist. One of Labour’s first MPs Thorne was born in Birmingham in 1857 into a very poor family. Later Thorne moved to London where he found work as a gas worker. Thorne was barely literate at this time however with the help of Eleanor Marx, daughter of Karl Marx, he taught himself to read and write
In 1889 he founded the National Union of Gas Workers and General Labourers Union and became its General Secretary. He retained his position in the union until 1934 as it evolved into the national union that we understand today as the GMB
Will Thorne was a Labour MP between 1918 and 1945 and was awarded the CBE in 1930. He died in 1946.
“Let me tell you that you will never get any alteration in Sunday work, no alteration in any of your conditions or wages, unless you join together. It is easy to break one stick but when fifty sticks are together in one bundle it is a much more difficult job “
Will Thorne CBE
1857 – 1946
Above quote from Thorne's speech to gas workers in London 31 March 1889 | 
04 September 2010
