Ralph Spence

Ralph Spence (10 October 1869 – 12 May 1938) was a British trade unionist.

Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 10 October 1869, Spence became interested in trade unionism in the early 1880s. As a result, he took a leading role in founding the Tyneside and District Labourers' Union in 1888. The union grew quickly, and was renamed as the National Amalgamated Union of Labour (NAUL). He was appointed as the union's Corresponding Secretary in 1898,

In 1922, J. N. Bell, General Secretary of NAUL, died unexpectedly, and Spence was elected to succeed him. Despite holding prominent positions in the movement, Spence was principally regarded as an effective administrator.