Cephas Speak

{{short description|British trade union leader}}

Cephas Speak (2 April 18731939 England and Wales Register – 18 December 1958) was a British trade union leader who served as secretary of the United Textile Factory Workers' Association.

Speak grew up in Burnley, and began working at a local cotton mill as a loom sweeper when he was ten years old. He became active in the Burnley Weavers' Association, and after twenty-five years was employed part-time as the assistant secretary of the Oldham Weavers' Association. After a few months, he left this job to become assistant secretary of the Bolton Weavers' Association, then in 1910, he became the first full-time secretary of the Bolton Weavers.{{cite news |title=Mr Cephas Speak |work=Manchester Guardian |date=19 December 1958}} The following year, he was also appointed as a magistrate in Bolton.{{cite news |title=New Bolton magistrates |work=Manchester Guardian |date=4 December 1913}}

In 1931, Speak was additionally elected as secretary of the United Textile Factory Workers' Association, serving until 1943. He finally retired from his Bolton Weavers post in 1948, at the age of 77, having held the position for 38 years.