Haigh grew up in Birstall, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and was educated at St Mary's Roman Catholic School in Batley.
He became a carpet weaver in 1956, and joined the National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers (NUDBTW).
[1] In 1973, Haigh became a district secretary for the NUDBTW, and in 1977, he was appointed as its National Organiser, also leading on negotiations on pay and conditions for members.
He was appointed as secretary of the TGWU's new dyers, bleacher and textile workers group,[1] and was also elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), although he served only one year before it was reorganised.
The TUC decided that the textile workers could no longer be represented separately from the rest of the TGWU, and Haigh therefore left the council.