Jack Jones, who was once one of Britain's most powerful and influential trade unionists, has died aged 96, his son has announced.

Mick Jones said that his father, who led the Transport and General Workers’ Union through the 1970s and was known as Britain's most charismatic union leader, died at a care home in Peckham, southeast London, shortly after 9.30pm.

Born in Liverpool, Mr Jones served as TGWU general secretary when it was one of the most powerful unions in the country between 1969 and 1978, and his face became better known to many members of the public than Cabinet ministers as he took part in frequent and marathon negotiating sessions.

He remained active as a crusader for pensioners after retiring in 1978.

Times Archive, 1977: Mr Jack Jones urges investment drive

According to a poll, 54 per cent of Britons believe Mr Jones is more powerful than Mr Callaghan

• Leading article: Mr Jones in the pulpit

• Jack Jones's locker

Related Links

• TUC's new leader has partnership on agenda

Paying tribute to his old colleague, Norman Willis, the former TUC general secretary, said: “Jack Jones was a great fighter for ordinary people whether they were at work or unemployed or later as pensioners. He never forgot the underdog and will be remembered with affection."

Jack Jones was born in Liverpool in 1913. After leaving school at 14 to becoming an engineering apprentice, he eventually joined his father as a docker.

He joined the TGWU as a shop steward and, as his involvement in unions and politics grew, he organised protest meetings against fascists.

Mr Jones joined the International Brigades and fought against fascists in the Spanish Civil War before being wounded in the Ebro battle of 1938.

He wrote about his experiences in his autobiography, Union Man, explaining how he led a group of volunteers in a clandestine operation to Spain from the UK, via Paris.

Mr Jones also served as a Liverpool City Councillor between 1936 and 1939. He then became a TGWU organiser in Coventry and subsequently general secretary before moving on to become Midland regional secretary of the TGWU in 1955 until 1963. He then held a series of senior union posts, became a magistrate in Coventry, and was elected to Labour’s policy-forming National Executive from 1964 to 1967.

He reached his peak as general secretary of the TGWU in 1969, serving in that post, easily the most powerful and influential union job in the country, until his retirement at the age of 65 in 1978.

In his retirement speech, he said jokingly: “I shall still be in the army of Labour even if it’s the Dad’s army section.”

Announcing his death, Mick Jones said his father passed away peacefully "in a very nice care home in Peckham".

He added: “He had all the care he could possibly want. He was active until the very end and had a good innings.”

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Times Christmas appeal: Letter from the Editor
• Conferences — what a waste of money
• Schools supremo learns a painful lesson