Jim Knox

Walter James Knox ONZ JP (6 March 1919 – 1 December 1991) was a leading New Zealand trade union leader. He was born in Auckland on 6 March 1919.[1][2]

This article is about the New Zealand trade unionist. For other people with the same name, see James Knox (disambiguation).

Sir Jim Knox
Born
Walter Knox Jr

(1919-03-16)March 16, 1919
Auckland, New Zealand
DiedDecember 1, 1991(1991-12-01) (aged 72)
Wellington, New Zealand
OrganizationFOL, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, Auckland Watersiders’ Action Committee, Norther Drivers Union
Office
  • Secretary of the Auckland Trades Council
  • President of FOL
Term1979-1987
PredecessorTom Skinner
SuccessorKen Douglas
Spouse(s)Margret Knox and Elizabeth Knox
Parents
  • Walter Knox (father)
  • Doris Knox (mother)

Knox worked as a truck driver and watersider, becoming involved in the 1951 waterside strike, and rose through the union ranks to become secretary of the Auckland District Woollen Mills Employees’ Union and vice president of the Auckland Trades Council in 1961. In 1969, Knox became secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, working alongside the organisation's president, Sir Tom Skinner.

Skinner, Knox and other trade union leaders Ken Douglas, Bill Andersen, Pat Kelly, Blue Kennedy and Con Devitt were all well known in New Zealand 1980s due to ongoing industrial action.[3]

On 6 February 1988, Knox was the seventh appointee to the Order of New Zealand.[4]

Personal life

Knox played rugby union for the Suburbs club in Auckland before switching codes and playing rugby league for the City Rovers in the Auckland Rugby League competition. His sports injuries made him unfit for war service during World War II.[1]

Knox was married twice, first to Margaret Joyce Svendsen in 1943, they had two children and a long marriage, then to Elizabeth Watson Bell Curtis (née Norrie) in 1983.[1]

References
  1. Franks, Peter. "Walter James Knox". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. Who’s Who in New Zealand, 12th edition, edited by Max Lambert p350 (1981, Reed, Wellington)
  3. "Still no justice for Trades Hall bomb death". Stuff. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  4. "The Order of New Zealand" (12 February 1988) 23 New Zealand Gazette 447 at 448.


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