Gerrit Smit

Gerrit Johan Adam Smit (8 April 1879 – 3 March 1934) was a Dutch trade union leader.

The union had become divided between supporters of the Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAP) and those who favoured remaining politically neutral.

Smit initially favoured neutrality, but became involved in organising an international conference of clerical workers, and rapidly moved toward social democracy.

[1] In 1905, Smit stood to become president of the union, but was defeated, in part because members felt he was too sympathetic to the SDAP.

In 1920, he was elected as secretary of the re-established International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees, and in 1921, he moved to become president of the ANBHK, while remaining its leading figure.