[1] Doughty became prominent in the AESD through his contributions at its annual conference, in particular in convincing the union to campaign for a national minimum wage for under 25-year-olds in the field.
[1][2] As leader, Doughty was associated with the union's left-wing, leading a number of strikes, with a particular focus on improving members' pay.
[1][2] Doughty negotiated a merger between the union, by then known as the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians' Association (DATA), and the Amalgamated Engineering Union, DATA becoming its largely autonomous Technical and Supervisory Section, and Doughty continuing as the section's general secretary.
[1] Doughty retired from his union posts in 1974, becoming chairman of the Economic Development Committee for Electrical Engineering, and serving on the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth.
[3][4] Doughty joined the Central Arbitration Committee in 1976 and he served as the industrial relations adviser for SIAD from 1977 until 1988, when he retired completely.