Conservative Trade Unionists
Encyclopedia
Conservatives at Work, formerly Conservative Trade Unionists (CTU), is an organisation within the British Conservative Party
made up of Conservative-supporting trade union
ists.
Under Margaret Thatcher
's leadership there was a drive for recruitment. In 1975 seven new full-time workers were appointed under a new head, John Bowis
, and by 1978 there 250 groups (membership of which varied from 20 to 200 members) and the 1977 CTU annual conferences was attended by over 1,200 delegates.
In the mid-1970s its president was Norman Tebbit
(a former official of the British Air Line Pilots Association
) and he drafted Mrs. Thatcher's speech to the CTU Conference in 1975 shortly after she was elected Conservative leader.
In the later 1970s and early 1980s the CTU played an important part in guiding the party toward the Trade Union reforms introduced after Mrs Thatcher came to power in 1979 by Employment minister
James Prior.
In the 1990s, with the decline in union influence, its membership waned. After the Conservative defeat in the 1997 General Election it was renamed Conservatives at Work, CaW.
Peter Bottomley
(a member of the Transport and General Workers Union) was also its president from 1978 to 1980. Sir Brian Mawhinney
was its president from 1987 to 1990.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
made up of Conservative-supporting trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ists.
Under Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's leadership there was a drive for recruitment. In 1975 seven new full-time workers were appointed under a new head, John Bowis
John Bowis
John Crocket Bowis OBE is a former Conservative MP and MEP.- Education :John Bowis was educated at Tonbridge School and Brasenose College, Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics....
, and by 1978 there 250 groups (membership of which varied from 20 to 200 members) and the 1977 CTU annual conferences was attended by over 1,200 delegates.
In the mid-1970s its president was Norman Tebbit
Norman Tebbit
Norman Beresford Tebbit, Baron Tebbit, CH, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 1981 to 1987 as Secretary of State for Employment...
(a former official of the British Air Line Pilots Association
British Air Line Pilots Association
The British Air Line Pilots' Association represents well over 75% of all the fixed wing pilots and helicopter aircrew based in the UK - as well as many working overseas. The Association has a membership of over 10,000 professional flight crew, working in companies large and small...
) and he drafted Mrs. Thatcher's speech to the CTU Conference in 1975 shortly after she was elected Conservative leader.
In the later 1970s and early 1980s the CTU played an important part in guiding the party toward the Trade Union reforms introduced after Mrs Thatcher came to power in 1979 by Employment minister
Secretary of State for Employment
The Secretary of State for Employment was a position in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. In 1995 it was merged with Secretary of State for Education to make the Secretary of State for Education and Employment...
James Prior.
In the 1990s, with the decline in union influence, its membership waned. After the Conservative defeat in the 1997 General Election it was renamed Conservatives at Work, CaW.
Peter Bottomley
Peter Bottomley
Sir Peter James Bottomley is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Worthing West...
(a member of the Transport and General Workers Union) was also its president from 1978 to 1980. Sir Brian Mawhinney
Brian Mawhinney
Brian Stanley Mawhinney, Baron Mawhinney PC is a British Conservative Party politician. He was a member of the Cabinet from 1994 until 1997 and a Member of Parliament from 1979 until 2005.-Early life:...
was its president from 1987 to 1990.