National Society of Metal Mechanics
Encyclopedia
The National Society of Metal Mechanics was a trade union
in the United Kingdom
.
The organisation was founded in Birmingham
in 1872 as the Amalgamated Brassworkers Society. Led for many years by William John Davis
, it was soon renamed the National Society of Amalgamated Brassworkers. In 1919, members rejected a proposal to join the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
, and instead chose to expand the union's remit, renaming the body as the National Society of Brass and Metal Mechanics. By 1920, it had 37,363 members, but it suffered during the Great Depression
, and this figure fell to 15,000 by 1937.
In 1985, the union merged with the Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section
; at this point, its membership was 27,000.
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...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The organisation was founded in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1872 as the Amalgamated Brassworkers Society. Led for many years by William John Davis
William John Davis
William John Davis was a British trade unionist.Born in Birmingham, Davis began working in a brass foundry. In 1869, he represented his local reform organisation at the Trades Union Congress...
, it was soon renamed the National Society of Amalgamated Brassworkers. In 1919, members rejected a proposal to join the Amalgamated Society of Engineers
Amalgamated Society of Engineers
Amalgamated Society of Engineers may refer to one of the following trade unions:* Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union in the United Kingdom, known as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers from 1851 until 1920...
, and instead chose to expand the union's remit, renaming the body as the National Society of Brass and Metal Mechanics. By 1920, it had 37,363 members, but it suffered during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, and this figure fell to 15,000 by 1937.
In 1985, the union merged with the Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section
Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section
The Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section was a British trade union.In 1970, the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians' Association , Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers and Constructional Engineering Union amalgamated to form the Amalgamated Union of Engineering...
; at this point, its membership was 27,000.
General Secretaries
- 1872: William John DavisWilliam John DavisWilliam John Davis was a British trade unionist.Born in Birmingham, Davis began working in a brass foundry. In 1869, he represented his local reform organisation at the Trades Union Congress...
- 1883:
- 1888: William John DavisWilliam John DavisWilliam John Davis was a British trade unionist.Born in Birmingham, Davis began working in a brass foundry. In 1869, he represented his local reform organisation at the Trades Union Congress...
- 1921: Arthur H. Gibbard