Jan Oudegeest
Jan Oudegeest was a Dutch trade unionist and politician.
Born in Utrecht, Oudegeest worked on the railways and in 1898 was a founder of the Netherlands Association of Railway and Tramway Employees, soon becoming the union's chair. In this role, he led a major strike in 1903, but thereafter decided to avoid strike action. When the Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen was founded in 1906, he became its first secretary, then in 1909, he took over as its president, serving until 1919. In this role, he was highly critical of the Christian trade unions, believing them to be pro-capitalist.
Oudegeest was a founder member of the International Labour Organization, and was vice-chair of its administrative council for many years, in which post he unsuccessfully tried to bring the social democratic and Marxist internationals together.
Oudegeest served on the council of Utrecht, and later that of Amsterdam, before in 1918 winning election to the House of Representatives. In 1919, he was a prominent founder of the International Federation of Trade Unions, and served as joint secretary until 1927. That year, he stood down, becoming chair of the Social Democratic Workers' Party, and in 1928 he was also elected to the Senate. He retired from his party post in 1934, and from the Senate in 1936, but remained on the executive of the NV until 1942.
