Public Works and Constructional Operatives' Union

Last updated
Public Works and Constructional Operatives' Union
Founded1889
Date dissolved1933
Merged into Transport and General Workers' Union
Key people John Ward (General Secretary)
Office locationEast Hill, Wandsworth
Country United Kingdom

The Public Works and Constructional Operatives' Union was a trade union representing labourers in the United Kingdom.

Contents

History

The union was founded in 1889 by Andrew Hall and Arthur Humphrey in West Ham, late in 1889, Navvies, Bricklayers' Labourers and General Labourers' Union. [1] [2] John Ward had been attempting to found a similar organisation in Battersea, and in May 1890 he was persuaded to join the new union, winning election in June as its first president. The union grew rapidly, and by 1892 claimed 5,000 members. The union gradually spread across England and South Wales, developing particular strength in the port at Barry. [2]

In 1897, Ward and Humphrey both resigned, in protest at the union's London-based executive refusing to increase their travel allowances. [2] Ward was appointed as leader of a new South Wales and South Western district, and led a successful strike in Barry. He was elected as the union's general secretary, and moved the headquarters to Barry, [3] although he returned them to London two years later. [4]

While Ward remained leader of the union, he was away throughout World War I, leading a labour battalion, and he then led it as an anti-Soviet force in the Russian Civil War. The lack of leadership led much of the union's membership to defect to its main rivals, National Association of Builders' Labourers, the United Order of General Labourers of Great Britain and Ireland, and the United Builders' Labourers Union. [1]

In 1920, the National Federation of Building Trade Operatives arranged a merger conference between the four unions of labourers, but Ward returned and withdrew the union from them. He renamed the union as the Public Workers and Constructional Operatives' Union, but it never became a significant force again. In 1929, its Staffordshire district merged into the Transport and General Workers' Union, and the last remnant of the union, still led by Ward, disappeared in 1933. [1]

Leadership

General Secretaries

1889: Arthur Humphrey
1896: W. Martin
1897: John Ward

Presidents

1890: John Ward
1897: Richard Davies
1899:

Related Research Articles

Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union

The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union (BFAWU) is a trade union in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1847 in Manchester, it represents workers in the food industry.

The Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers Union (DWRGLU), often known as the Dockers' Union, was a British trade union representing dock workers in the United Kingdom.

The National Amalgamated Labourers' Union (NALU) was a trade union representing unskilled labourers in the United Kingdom.

The United Order of General Labourers was a trade union representing labourers, mostly in the construction industry, in the United Kingdom.

The Altogether Builders' Labourers and Constructional Workers' Society was a trade union representing labourers in the construction industry in the United Kingdom.

The National Association of Operative Plasterers (NAOP) was a trade union representing plasterers in the United Kingdom.

National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants

The National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants (NATSOPA) was a British trade union.

The National Union of General Workers (NUGW) was an early general union in the United Kingdom, the most important general union of its era.

The National Amalgamated Union of Labour (NAUL) was a general union in the United Kingdom.

The North Wales Miners' Association was a trade union representing coal miners in Wales.

Electrical Trades Union (United Kingdom)

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) was a trade union representing electricians in the United Kingdom, much of its membership consisting of wiring fitters and telephone engineers.

The National Federation of Building Trades Operatives (NFBTO) was a trade union federation in the United Kingdom, consisting of unions with members in construction and related industries.

The Amalgamated Society of Operative Lace Makers and Auxiliary Workers, also known as the Lace Makers' Society, was a trade union representing laceworkers in England.

The United Builders' Labourers Union was a trade union representing labourers in the construction industry in the United Kingdom.

The British Labour Amalgamation was an early union representing construction workers, principally in Manchester area of England.

The Fawcett Association was a trade union representing postal clerks in London.

The Amalgamated Union of Machine and General Workers was a general union representing workers in and around Lancashire in England.

Leonard Hall (socialist)

William Leonard Hall was a British trade union leader, journalist, and socialist activist, who held prominent positions in the Independent Labour Party.

W. Richard Davies was a Welsh trade unionist and political activist. The president of one union, and general secretary of another, he also served as a city councillor and contested numerous Parliamentary elections.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, Historical Directory of British Trade Unions, vol.3, p.124
  2. 1 2 3 "Navvies' and General Labourers' Union". Barry Herald. 16 October 1896.
  3. ↑ "The Navvies' Union: Barry its headquarters". Evening Express. 1 February 1897.
  4. ↑ "The Navvies' Union". Western Mail. 15 September 1899.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.