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| Abbreviation | NUAW, NUAAW |
|---|---|
| Merged into | Transport and General Workers' Union (Agricultural Section) |
| Founded | 20 June 1906; 119 years ago (1906-06-20) |
| Dissolved | 1982; 43 years ago (1982) |
| Type | Trade union |
| Headquarters | 308Gray's Inn Road, London |
| Location | |
| Members | 70,800 (1946)[1] |
General Secretary | George Edwards (first) Jack Boddy (last) |
President | George Nicholls (first) John Hose (last) |
Treasurer | Richard Winfrey (first) |
Publication | The Landworker |
| Affiliations | Liberal Party (1906–1911),TUC,Labour Party |
TheNational Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers (NUAAW) was atrades union representingfarmworkers in theUnited Kingdom. The Union was founded in 1906 by trade union activistGeorge Edwards. It was dissolved in 1982 when it merged into the Agricultural Section of theTransport and General Workers' Union.
In 1919, the union began publishing its journalThe Landworker for its members. The journal remains in circulation, now published by the Agricultural Section ofUnite the Union.
The late 19th century saw the rise of thelabour movement in the United Kingdom. As the movement grew in the agricultural sector,conflict increased between three main groups:[2]
In the early 1870s, British farmworkers began organising agriculturaltrade unions such as theLincolnshire Labour League (later the Amalgamated Labour League), theWarwickshire Agricultural Labourers Union (later the National Agricultural Labourers' Union), and theKent and Sussex Agricultural Labourers' Union. These unions initially achieved modest victories and growth, but a series of unsuccessful attempts to usecollective action resulted in the decline and dissolution of early farmworkers' unions.[2]
After the victory of theLiberal Party in the1906 UK general election, many farm owners were angered by the rejection of theConservative Party. Farm owners took revenge by sacking and evicting farmers who they suspected of radical views or of Liberal sympathies.[2][3]
InNorfolk, farm workers sought the help of Liberal counciller and trade union activistGeorge Edwards. Ewards had previously been involved with union organising, but initially believed he wasn't equal to the task.[3] After being convinced by his wife, Charlotte Edwards, George Edwards agreed to help establish a farmworker's union. In early June, Edwards began making use of his connections with union activists and Liberal members toraise funds.[3][2] While some supporting Liberals expressed scepticism, two LiberalMPs —George Nicholls andRichard Winfrey — pledged to attend the founding the conference in addition their donations.[3]
Through this, £10 in funds (equivalent to £1,359 in 2023) were raised. Although the cost of hosting a conference at the Angel Hotel inNorth Walsham was £11, Edwards himself funded the difference out of his own pocket.[4] With this, the conference was held on 20 July 1906, with attending Norfolk agricultural workers voting to establish theEastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union.[2][5]
George Edwards was the union's inaugural General Secretary, and was paid 13 shillings a week. Other leadership positions were held byGeorge Nicholls, the union's first president, andRichard Winfrey, its first treasurer. The remainder of its Executive Committee consisted of J. Binder, J. Sage, William G. Codling, Herbert Day, J. Bly, C. Holman and J. Stibbins.[2][5] Much of the union's early leadership were trade unionmoderates associated with the Liberal Party, and shyed away from any actions they consideredmilitant. George Edwards himself describedstrike action as a horror, and often worked to prevent strikes.[6]
The first three branches of the union were in Norfolk, One inSt Faith's (former stronghold ofJoseph Arch's oldNational Agricultural Labourers Union), one inKenninghall, and one inShipham.[5] By the end of 1906, the union had established fifty-seven branches, and had a total of 1,600 members.[2]
In March 1910, major strikes for betterpay and conditions broke out in the Norfolk villages ofTrunch, and spread toKnapton and St Faith's.[6] At St Faith's, the 105 union men were on strike from May 1910 until February 1911 for 1 shilling a week extra.[5] The strike action was unsuccessful, with many union members supicious of the Liberal Party undermining them.[7] As a result, at the Union's February 1911Fakenham conference, the Union's members voted to affiliate to theLabour Party and theTrades Union Congress (TUC).[6][7]
From 1911 until 1923,Walter Robert Smith was Honourary President of the Union.[8]
The organisation changed its name in 1912 to theNational Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union (NALRWU), and in the same year officially registered as an Approved Society under theNational Insurance Act 1911.[5][6][7] Through a £500 grant by the TUC (equivalent to £62,145 in 2023), in 1913 the union was able to afford two salaried organisers.[7] George Edwards stood down as General Secretary in 1913, then took up the post of President.[9]
Growing interest in the NALRWU in some regards outstripped the ability of the Union's head office to keep up. One such case 1912 appeals to expand the union's activity intoFlintshire in Wales turned down.[10] Despite this, the NALRWU continued to grow. The Union entered Wales inWrexham County joined with a campaign to strengthen its position in South-WestLancashire. When farmworkers in the area put forward demands for increased pay, they were denied and 2,000 workers went on strike.[10] The strike lasted two weeks, and received the support of theOrmskirk branch of theNational Union of Railwaymen[10]
In 1920, the Union became theNational Union of Agricultural Workers (NUAW).
Thepost-war period in Britain saw a decline in the number of farmworkers from 750,000 in 1946 to under 200,000 in 1976. Over the same period, the NUAW lost half of its membership despite strong recruitment centred on agricultural auxiliary workers—such as those working in the transport and retail of food and agricultural goods.[11] In part reflecting this, in 1968 the Union took on its final name, theNational Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers (NUAAW).[11][12]
In 1982, the union was dissolved and became part of the already existing Agricultural Section of theTransport and General Workers' Union (TGWU). the TGWU itself merged withAmicus in 2007 to formUnite the Union. The NUAAW's contemporary successor is currently theFood, Drink and Agricultural Workers Section of Unite the Union, which operates the NUAAWs publication,The Landworker.[13][14]
The Union not only fought for worker's rights but also provide social activities.[15]
The Union's stronghold was in Norfolk,Lincolnshire andDorset with over 90% of agricultural labourers being in membership.[citation needed]
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 Dorset County Committee organises the annualTolpuddle Martyrs festival along with theTrades Union Congress.
The union worked closely with theLabour Party from its early years.[16] Until 1945, it contributed election expenses to some candidates, but no ongoing expenses to those who won election, and therefore it is often not listed as a sponsor in this period.[17]
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