At the first conference of the ETU, the following year, he was elected as the union's inaugural president, while Dick Steadman was appointed as the first general secretary, working on a part-time basis.
Steadman did not wish to give up his work, and Walker was elected unopposed, and stated that he hoped he would remain in the post for life.
He reviewed the union's financial position and raised concerns that its income would not cover its commitments to pay benefits to members.
In response, the union's executive committee decided to introduce a levy on working members of three pennies per week.
The executive appointed a treasurer, Arthur Senior, in an attempt to resolve the union accounts, and this process revealed that £21 9s 3d was missing, believed to have been stolen by Walker.