Background
He was born in Wigan, the son of a coalminer, and became a Communist activist, and trade union leader. Member of Electrical Trades Union Executive Council, North Lancashire and Merseyside, 1948 - 1954.
union official General President
He was born in Wigan, the son of a coalminer, and became a Communist activist, and trade union leader. Member of Electrical Trades Union Executive Council, North Lancashire and Merseyside, 1948 - 1954.
He left the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1956. In 1961 he uncovered an ETU ballot rigging scandal, and successfully sued the union. Cannon became president of the ETU in September 1963, a post left vacant by disgraced former president Frank Foulkes.
In his time as leader of the ETU, he took part in a merger with the plumbers" union to create the EETPU. Cannon died from cancer on 9 December 1970.