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Newsletter of the Trade Union Badge Collectors Society Volume 2 Number 3 In this issue: Bristol, West of England and South Wales Operatives Trade and Provident Society Manchester Trade Union Week Midland No 7 CWU (Burslem Delivery Office Dispute) National Union of Public Employees The Lilywhites Union of state servants and non-union badges The Peoples March for Jobs National Seamen’s Reform Movement National Union of Unemployed and Workers 1 | P a g e Contents Welcome 03 Bristol, West of England and South Wales Operatives Trade and Provident Society “ 05 Manchester Trade Union Week Promoting the TUBCS and spreading the word. 06 Midland No 7 CWU (Burslem Delivery Office Dispute) 2007/8 I am pleased to report that the following are receiving the TUBCS newsletter. 07 The National Union of Public Employees WCML and Peoples History Museum in Manchester, 13 Book Corner the MRC Warwick Archives, and 2 more collectors from Trade Unions. 15 The Lilywhites TUC Libraries Collection also helped again using 20 Rare badges from Bernie Beagans’ Social media to circulate our newsletter collection This edition will be the last of 2020 and it is the 24 Can you identify these badges? intention to publish further editions on a quarterly basis, obviously this is dependent on contributions. 25 Union of state servants and non-union I would also welcome your views on whether a badges badge swap meeting should be arranged when we have the opportunity to do so. 27 International Workers Day-Labour Day- Mayday- 1st MAY This time around I have included books that are 28 The Peoples March for Jobs available relating to Trade Union Badges. 29 National Seamen’s Reform Movement 32 National Union of Unemployed and Workers “ 34 Early membership emblems 36 Badges for free and for sale [email protected] 38 Justice for mine workers’ campaign 41 Registration numbers and initials The Trade Union Badge Collectors Society is sponsored by the Communication Workers Union SYMBOLS OF SOLIDARITY 2 Bristol, West of England and South Wales Operatives Trade and Provident Society The Bristol, West of England and South Wales Operatives Trade and Provident Society was founded in 1873 by T. M. Kelly, an Irishman and one-time building labourer. He received assistance from established local union leaders such as John Cawsey of Bristol Trades Council. Membership trebled in the five years up to 1900 making the union was twice as large as the Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers Union and just over half the size of the National Union of Gas and The union was open to all labourers and included General Labourers. building labourers, deal and timber porters, sugar labourers, potters, dock The union held its first labourers, conference in July 1873 warehousemen and and it claimed 2,000 tanners. members in Bristol, Bath, Weston, Clevedon, Newport and Cardiff. The conference elected Kelly as general secretary and set up a system of benefits for members including strike, By 1874 the union was accident, sickness and claiming 10,000 members burial. The union claimed in 46 branches and Kelly 800 members in Bristol was replaced by John which was where it Fox as general secretary. based its executive council. By Andrew Redpath SYMBOLS OF SOLIDARITY 3 The union's membership peaked at 49,301 in 1910, and it then slowly declined, with most of the dock workers in the union transferring to the National Union of Dock, Riverside and General Workers in Great Britain and Ireland. In 1935, it still had 35,104 members. The Historical Directory of Trade Unions states that it remained a functioning organisation until 1937. The organisation continued to function after 1937 but dropped the ‘Trades’ from its title becoming the Bristol, West of England and South Wales Provident Society. The Society de- registered as a trade union and from 1938 acted purely as a Friendly Society. SYMBOLS OF SOLIDARITY 4 MANCHESTER TRADE UNION WEEK By Steve Baguley The 3rd Manchester A few examples of the Trade Union Week was badges to held 1988. commemorate the event are shown, and with 30 Unions present Throughout the week, there must be more out there, please send in a Theatre, Films, Debates and Conferences took photo if you have other examples. place and the Town hall was filled with stands, exhibitions, photographs and banners with 30 Trades Unions in attendance. Manchester played an important historical role in the social and economic development of the City. Trade Union Week was conceived to promote the value of Trades Unions to the Community and the City as well as their members. Trade Union membership has been increasing recently so the interest might be rekindled for another event, I never attended one, but by all-accounts a very good Union event, did you go to one? SYMBOLS OF SOLIDARITY 5 Midland No 7 CWU (Burslem Delivery Office Dispute) 2007/8 This was not an ordinary At the time Royal Mail dispute, not for the 12 refused to go to ACAS. CWU members suspended, and not for the CWU members in There was a considerable the Burslem DO. amount of evidence available that it was a vindictive calculated Royal Mail suspended attack on the union and the 12 on 11th its members. September 2007, 2 were Union officials, 3 were ex Union officials, of There was considerable spurious charges of support within the Union, encouraging others not politically, TUCs and other to cooperate with unions. There was a management, bullying What followed during the massive march & rally and harassment. The next few months was held on the 19th January workforce and the unprecedented 2008. agreements in place at Intimidation from Royal the office had been Mail against its staff. under attack for some Of the 12 suspended 8 time leading up to the were reinstated, I after suspensions. But following successful appeal, only 3 remain in Industrial action ballots employment with Royal CWU members decided Mail. to show solidarity with the 12 suspended colleagues and a long A video was produced of dispute followed which the march and also a started on 17th badge, if you would like December 2007, either I have some spare, including 5 weeks strike action. The solidarity within the office was strong, even when 3 members were re-instated, they stayed solid until a resolution was reached for all of Steve Baguley [email protected] them. SYMBOLS OF SOLIDARITY 6 The National Union of Public Employees by Andrew Redpath In 1889 the Carmen’s & Albin Taylor an active Corporation Workers Roadmen’s Union of the member of the union Union in 1902, the Parish of Camberwell since 1891, with the Stockport Corporation was formed on the support of the union’s Gas Workers Union in suggestion of William membership ceded 1903, the City of Coote, a progressive from the union in Westminster Municipal member of Camberwell response to allegations Labour Union in1903, Parish Council. Coote of embezzlement and the Glasgow Main Pipe was appointed General disorganisation within Layers & Jointers Secretary of the union the union in 1894 setting Association in 1904, the and began expanding up the London County Hull Corporation it in to neighbouring Council Employees Employees Protection councils. Protection Association. Society in 1905, the Belfast Municipal Employees & Other In 1890 the union Over the next five years Workers Society in1905, changed its name to the union expanded the Camberwell the South London both within and outside Municipal Labour Union Carmen’s and London changing its in 1906 and the Roadmen’s Union As name to the National Hackney Municipal well as expanding Association of County Labour Union in 1909. geographically the Authority Employees in union expanded its 1899 and a year later to range of members to the Municipal include all council Employees Association. employees becoming the South London Vestry Employees Labour Union in 1891 and later that year becoming the National Municipal and Incorporated Vestry Employees Labour Union. As a result of a dispute between the General Secretary, Full Time The Municipal Officers and the Employees Association Executive Council in continued to expand 1907 Taylor and 3500 by absorbing a number members left the MEA of local municipal to form the Municipal unions. The Battersea Workers Society Vestry Employees Union renaming it the merged in 1900, the National Union of Liverpool Corporation Corporation Workers in Workers Union in 1901, 1908. the Glasgow SYMBOLS OF SOLIDARITY 7 Wills retired in 1934 and Roberts own answer to Roberts saw the Bryn Roberts, a 36 - these questions were: potential in organising year old former miner county road workers “It is I believe fair to say was appointed who were unorganised, that in answer to these General Secretary. poorly paid, numerous questions, the danger Roberts headed a but spread in small of extinction, voluntary union of less than 13000 groups throughout the or otherwise, is greater if members and a deficit country and told the union stands still, of £450 15s. Prior to organisers to dedicate than would be the risk appointing Roberts the part of their week to of failure if an ambitious Executive Council had organisation programme of approved the roadworkers. expansion was borrowing of £1000 to keep the union afloat. embarked upon”. By 1920 the union had Roberts could be seen grown to 16500 Roberts expansion plan as being ahead of his members however a consisted of appointing time in turning NUPE in year later in common to an organising union, Roberts posed three four organisers for the his instructions to with most unions’ questions to the London area, Roberts organisers were to membership had fallen Executive Council: Can research showed there recruit members, to 13500. Taylor retired the union survive were thousands of represent members and in 1921 and the union indefinitely upon its unorganised council gain recognition for appointed Jack Wills limited personnel: Will it workers in London and them.