King grew up in Atherton and left school at the age of fourteen, finding work in a local cotton mill.
[1] King subsequently became a full-time organiser for the Cardroom Amalgamation, then the secretary of its affiliate, the North East Lancashire Card and Blowing Room Operatives' and Ring Spinners' Association.
During this period, the cotton industry was in steep decline, and King negotiated a merger with the Amalgamated Weavers' Association in 1974, forming the Amalgamated Textile Workers' Union; he served as joint general secretary of the new union for a year.
In 1975, King became an adviser to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, serving for three years.
[1] In his spare time, King was the founder and president of the Accrington Pakistan Friendship Association, and he also served as a magistrate.