William Pickard

William Pickard (10 February 1821 – 21 October 1887) was a British trade unionist.

Born in Aspull Moor in Lancashire, Pickard worked at a colliery from an early age. He became active in the Wigan District Miners' Union and, despite being illiterate, he rose to prominence. He was elected as vice-president of Alexander Macdonald's Miners' National Association (MNA) at its founding conference in 1863, and as agent of the Wigan miners in 1864.

Pickard and Thomas Halliday became critical of Macdonald's cautious approach to trade unionism, and founded a new Amalgamated Association of Miners (AAM), with Pickard as treasurer. This new association advocated more militant action, including solidarity strikes, but continued to co-operate with the MNA, and even welcomed Macdonald to speak at its conferences. The AAM was initially successful, expanding across Great Britain and winning several strikes, which inspired Pickard to stand as a Liberal-Labour candidate in Wigan at the 1874 UK general election, taking fourth place of five candidates.

The AAM was suffering from financial difficulties and so, in 1875, merged back into the MNA. Pickard thereafter withdrew from national trade unionism, but remained agent of the Wigan miners and was prominent in leading rescue efforts and organising compensation after mining accidents.

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