Citrine, Walter

Born Aug. 22, 1887, in Liverpool. British reformist figure in the trade union movement.

Citrine joined the Electrical Trades Union in 1914. From 1924 to 1926 he served as assistant secretary of the British Trade Union Congress (BTUC) and, from 1926 to 1946, as general secretary. From 1928 to 1945 he was president of the Amsterdam International of Trade Unions. In 1946 he was president of the International Federation of Trade Unions; he later played an important role in the decision of the BTUC to leave the federation. He was made a baron in 1946. Citrine has headed various administrative bodies of nationalized branches of British industry. He has also been a member of several government committees and councils.