Tom McCarthy (trade unionist)

Thomas McCarthy (c. 1862 – 19 September 1899) was a British Irish trade unionist, who became prominent as a leader of dockers in England.

McCarthy believed that its members would be in a stronger position if all workers at the docks were unionised, and he strongly supported Ben Tillett's efforts in forming the Tea Operatives' and General Labourers' Association.

[1] In 1891, McCarthy was asked to stand as a Parliamentary candidate for the Irish National League, but he rejected the offer, as he was a socialist.

[3][4] However, he had no connection with the city and although he attracted support from the local branches of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Frederick Maddison, a Liberal trade union leader, persuaded much of the city's labour movement to back the incumbent, Charles Wilson.

No Conservative Party candidate contested the seat at the 1895 UK general election, while McCarthy lost heavily to Wilson, taking only 17.4% of the votes cast.