TheUK Association of Organised Trades was founded inSheffield in July 1866. It was an important predecessor organization to theTrades Union Congress.[1][2]
The organisation was largely inspired byWilliam Dronfield, who was elected as its secretary. It initially represented over 200,000 trade unionists, organised throughtrades councils or national unions. Among the attendees at the first conference were theLondon Working Men's Association, andGeorge Odger of theLondon Trades Council.
The organisation agreed to secure mutual co-operation duringlock-outs, to oppose theMaster and Servant Act, and to work for the establishment of Courts of Conciliation and Arbitration. Its headquarters were established in Sheffield, and its executive was elected by theSheffield Association of Organised Trades.[3]
A second conference was held inManchester in January 1867, and a third inPreston in September of that year, although by this point, it was in sharp decline.
The prospects for the organisation were essentially finished by theSheffield Outrages. Although it condemned them, it soon emerged thatWilliam Broadhead, Treasurer of the Association, was their ringleader.
The organisation disbanded in 1871.
