National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers
Encyclopedia
The National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers was a trade union
in the United Kingdom
.
It was established as the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union at a conference of Norfolk agricultural workers at the Angel Hotel, North Walsham
on 20 July 1906. Its first President was George Nicholls
, its Secretary (on 13 shillings a week) was George Edwards and its Treasurer was Richard Winfrey
. The other members of its Executive Committee were J. Binder, J. Sage, William G. Codling, Herbert Day, J. Bly, C. Holman and J. Stibbins.
The first three branches of the union were in Norfolk at St Faith's (former stronghold of Joseph Arch
's old National Agricultural Labourers Union) and Kenninghall
and Shipham.
In 1910 major strikes and disputes broke out in the Norfolk villages of Trunch
, Knapton
and St Faith's. At St Faith's, the 105 union men were on strike from May 1910 until February 1911 for 1 shilling a week extra.
The organisation changed its name in 1910 to the "National Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union". Edwards stood down as Secretary in 1913, but then took up the post of President. In 1920, the union became the "National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers".
The union's stronghold was in Norfolk, Lincolnshire
and Dorset
with over 90% of agricultural labourers being in membership.
William "Bill" Holmes, NUAW General Secretary once told an audience of American trade unionists:
"In many of our villages, a man who joins a trade union is worthy of the Victoria Cross that's won on a battlefield. In many villages he dare not be known to be a member of the union. But to be a branch secretary! That is to risk one's livelihood every day in the week".
The union's journal was The Landworker.
The union became the Agricultural Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union
in 1982. The Dorset County Committee organises the annual Tolpuddle Martyrs festival
along with the TUC.
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...
.
It was established as the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union at a conference of Norfolk agricultural workers at the Angel Hotel, North Walsham
North Walsham
North Walsham is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, England in the North Norfolk district.-Demographics:The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of 11,998. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of North...
on 20 July 1906. Its first President was George Nicholls
George Nicholls (MP)
George Nicholls was a British evangelical pastor, and Liberal-Labour politician who served as the Member of Parliament for North Northamptonshire from 1906 to 1910.Nicholls started life as a farm labourer and smallholder...
, its Secretary (on 13 shillings a week) was George Edwards and its Treasurer was Richard Winfrey
Richard Winfrey
Sir Richard Winfrey was a British Liberal politician, newspaper publisher and campaigner for agricultural rights.-Birth, Death and Family:...
. The other members of its Executive Committee were J. Binder, J. Sage, William G. Codling, Herbert Day, J. Bly, C. Holman and J. Stibbins.
The first three branches of the union were in Norfolk at St Faith's (former stronghold of Joseph Arch
Joseph Arch
Joseph Arch was an English politician, born in Barford, Warwickshire who played a key role in what Karl Marx called the "Great awakening" of the agricultural workers in 1872.-Biography:...
's old National Agricultural Labourers Union) and Kenninghall
Kenninghall
Kenninghall is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 878 in 369 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of Breckland....
and Shipham.
In 1910 major strikes and disputes broke out in the Norfolk villages of Trunch
Trunch
Trunch is a village and parish in Norfolk, England, situated three miles north of North Walsham and two miles from the coast at Mundesley. At the Census 2001 the village had a population of 805, and 388 households. The parish covers an area of ....
, Knapton
Knapton
Knapton is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is south-east of Cromer, north-east of Norwich and north-east of London. The village lies north-east of the A149 between Kings Lynn and Great Yarmouth. The nearest railway station is at North Walsham for the...
and St Faith's. At St Faith's, the 105 union men were on strike from May 1910 until February 1911 for 1 shilling a week extra.
The organisation changed its name in 1910 to the "National Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union". Edwards stood down as Secretary in 1913, but then took up the post of President. In 1920, the union became the "National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers".
The union's stronghold was in Norfolk, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
and Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
with over 90% of agricultural labourers being in membership.
William "Bill" Holmes, NUAW General Secretary once told an audience of American trade unionists:
"In many of our villages, a man who joins a trade union is worthy of the Victoria Cross that's won on a battlefield. In many villages he dare not be known to be a member of the union. But to be a branch secretary! That is to risk one's livelihood every day in the week".
The union's journal was The Landworker.
The union became the Agricultural Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union
Transport and General Workers' Union
The Transport and General Workers' Union, also known as the TGWU and the T&G, was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland - where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union - with 900,000 members...
in 1982. The Dorset County Committee organises the annual Tolpuddle Martyrs festival
Tolpuddle Martyrs festival
The Tolpuddle Martyrs' Festival is an annual festival held in Dorset, England, which celebrates the memory of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. The event is a celebration of trade unionism and labour politics organised by the Dorset Committee of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers now...
along with the TUC.
General Secretaries
- 1906: George EdwardsGeorge Edwards (British politician)Sir George Edwards OBE was a trade unionist and Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom.- Life :...
- 1913: Robert Barrie Walker
- 1928: Bill Holmes
- 1941: Alf Dann
- 1953: Harold CollisonHarold CollisonHarold Collison was a British trade unionist.Born in the East End of London, Collison grew up in Gloucester and attended the Crypt School, before working on a farm from the age of seventeen. He joined the National Union of Agricultural Workers and was also active in the Labour Party...
- 1969: Reg Bottini
- 1978: Jack Boddy
Presidents
- 1906: George NichollsGeorge Nicholls (MP)George Nicholls was a British evangelical pastor, and Liberal-Labour politician who served as the Member of Parliament for North Northamptonshire from 1906 to 1910.Nicholls started life as a farm labourer and smallholder...
- 1911: Walter Robert SmithWalter Robert SmithWalter Robert Smith was a Labour Member of Parliament who represented Wellingborough and Norwich. He was an organiser with the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives.- External links :...
- 1924: Bill Holmes
- 1928: Edwin GoochEdwin GoochEdwin George Gooch was a British Labour Party politician and trade union leader.Gooch was appointed an Alderman for Norfolk County Council...
- 1966: Bert HazellBert HazellBertie Hazell, CBE , also known as Bert Hazell, was a British Labour Party politician and trade union activist....
- 1978: John Hose
See also
- List of trade unions
- Transport and General Workers' UnionTransport and General Workers' UnionThe Transport and General Workers' Union, also known as the TGWU and the T&G, was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland - where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union - with 900,000 members...
- TGWU amalgamations
- Country Standard
- Account of the founding of the union From EASF website