Jack Rosenberg

Jack Rosenberg was a Cockney Jew and a baker who was a life-long Communist and trades unionist. He became active in the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers, Confectioners and Allied Workers soon after World War Two and attended national conference as a delegate from North London District Board. It was said that he specialised in final afternoon resolutions on issues such as German re-armament and nuclear weapons. According to the official history of the Bakers Union he was "a very good speaker, adding fire and punch to his no doubt sincere contributions".

In 1960 the union began to appoint full time organisers on regional basis for London No1 Region and he became a tireless worker for the union. Later he developed Parkinson’s disease but, despite this, he pressed on with his organising work in once well-known bakery chains such as the firms of Hales, Price, Coombs, Weston Chibnall, High Wycombe, and Neville. Many union branches established in the 1960s were down to his tireless efforts.

(In 1964 the union shortened its name to simply `the Bakers Union’ but then soon after lengthened the name to what is is called today – the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU).

The cutting (left) is a letter from the Daily Worker in December 1965 from Rosenberg, arguing strongly for Left Unity, which he indicated was a key feature of his work in the Bakers Union. 

In the autumn of 1967, Jack died under very tragic circumstances.

In view of his wonderful work in the organising field, the London region of his union decided to name their organising shield the "Jack Rosenberg Trophy".

 Michael Walker

Source:  The Bakers Union, Our history 1849-1977 - [a history of the Bakers' Union], Bakers union (Welwyn Garden City) 1977