Workers' Union of Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Workers' Union of Ireland (WUI), later the Federated Workers' Union of Ireland, was an Irish
trade union
formed in 1924. In 1990, it merged with the Irish Transport and General Workers Union to form the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union
(SIPTU).
and the incumbent leadership of the ITGWU, subsequent to his 1923 release from Sing Sing
and return to Ireland in April 1923. Larkin, still officially general secretary of the ITGWU, clashed bitterly with William X. O'Brien
, who had taken leadership of the ITGWU, the Irish Labour Party and the Irish Trade Union Congress
.
During Larkin's absence at the 1924 Comintern congress (and possibly against his wishes), his brother Peter led their supporters out of the ITGWU, forming the WUI. The new union quickly grew, gaining the allegiance of about two thirds of the Dublin membership of the ITGWU and of a smaller number of rural members. It affiliated to the pro-Soviet Red International of Labour Unions, but during the 1930s gradually entered the mainstream of the Irish trade union movement, being admitted to the Dublin Trades Council in 1936 (although the Irish Trade Union Congress would not accept its membership application until 1945).
In 1941 a new trade union bill was published by the Government. Inspired by an internal trade union restructuring proposal by O'Brien, it was viewed as a threat by the smaller general unions and the Irish branches of British unions (known as the 'amalgamated unions'). Larkin and the WUI played a leading role in the unsuccessful campaign against the bill.
became general secretary, and continued to preside over a gradual expansion of the WUI, including amalgamations with a number of other unions.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
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...
formed in 1924. In 1990, it merged with the Irish Transport and General Workers Union to form the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union
SIPTU
SIPTU , or in Irish: CSTGT is Ireland's largest trade union, with around 200,000 members. Most of these members are in the Republic of Ireland, although the union does have a Northern Ireland branch...
(SIPTU).
Formation
The WUI was formed in 1924 as a consequence of the clashes between James LarkinJames Larkin
James Larkin was an Irish trade union leader and socialist activist, born to Irish parents in Liverpool, England. He and his family later moved to a small cottage in Burren, southern County Down. Growing up in poverty, he received little formal education and began working in a variety of jobs...
and the incumbent leadership of the ITGWU, subsequent to his 1923 release from Sing Sing
Sing Sing
Sing Sing Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison operated by the New York State Department of Correctional Services in the town of Ossining, New York...
and return to Ireland in April 1923. Larkin, still officially general secretary of the ITGWU, clashed bitterly with William X. O'Brien
William X. O'Brien
William X. O'Brien was a politician and trade unionist in Ireland.Born in Clonakilty, County Cork, O'Brien moved with his family to Dublin in 1897, and quickly became involved in the Irish Socialist Republican Party...
, who had taken leadership of the ITGWU, the Irish Labour Party and the Irish Trade Union Congress
Irish Trade Union Congress
The Irish Trade Union Congress was a union federation covering the island of Ireland.Until 1894, representatives of Irish trade unions attended the British Trades Union Congress. However, many felt that they had little impact on the British body, and decided to form their own federation. This...
.
During Larkin's absence at the 1924 Comintern congress (and possibly against his wishes), his brother Peter led their supporters out of the ITGWU, forming the WUI. The new union quickly grew, gaining the allegiance of about two thirds of the Dublin membership of the ITGWU and of a smaller number of rural members. It affiliated to the pro-Soviet Red International of Labour Unions, but during the 1930s gradually entered the mainstream of the Irish trade union movement, being admitted to the Dublin Trades Council in 1936 (although the Irish Trade Union Congress would not accept its membership application until 1945).
In 1941 a new trade union bill was published by the Government. Inspired by an internal trade union restructuring proposal by O'Brien, it was viewed as a threat by the smaller general unions and the Irish branches of British unions (known as the 'amalgamated unions'). Larkin and the WUI played a leading role in the unsuccessful campaign against the bill.
After Big Jim's death
After Big Jim Larkin's 1947 death, his son James Larkin, JnrJames Larkin, Jnr
James Larkin, Jnr was an Irish Labour Party politician and trade union official. He first stood for election as an Irish Worker League candidate at the September 1927 general election in the Dublin County constituency but was unsuccessful. His father, James Larkin, was a successful candidate for...
became general secretary, and continued to preside over a gradual expansion of the WUI, including amalgamations with a number of other unions.
General Secretaries
- 1923: James LarkinJames LarkinJames Larkin was an Irish trade union leader and socialist activist, born to Irish parents in Liverpool, England. He and his family later moved to a small cottage in Burren, southern County Down. Growing up in poverty, he received little formal education and began working in a variety of jobs...
- 1947: James Larkin, Jr
- 1969: Denis LarkinDenis LarkinDenis Larkin was an Irish Labour Party politician and trade union official, and son of Dublin's most noted trade union leader, the Liverpool-born Jim Larkin, who died in 1948 . He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Labour Party Teachta Dála for the Dublin North East constituency at the 1954...
- 1977: Paddy Cardiff
- 1982: Bill Attley