Graphical Media and Print unions

Graphical Media and Paper unions

A long and sometimes turbulent history, printing unions have been at the forefront in the TU Movement and here we will try and make some sense of how and when we arrived here.

National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants 1889-1982

Founded in 1889 as the Printers Labourers Union, renamed in 1899 as the Operative Printers Assistants Union and in 1904 became the National Society of Operative Printers Assistants NATSOPA, taking the acronym for the first time in 1911. In 1911 the union changed its name to the National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants.

In 1966 the Union merged with the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding & Paper Workers 1921-1966 NUPB&PW to form SOGAT Division 1.

The merger dissolved in 1970, the NUPB&PW retained the name SOGAT and NATSOPA became the National Society of Operative Printing, Bookbinding & Media Personnel 1970-1982 they then merged with SOGAT 75 to form SOGAT 82

National Union of Bookbinders & Machine Rulers 1911-1921. Merged with the National Union of Printing & Paper Workers to form the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding Machine Ruling & Paper Workers 19211928.

The National Union of Printing, Bookbinding & Paper Workers NUPBPW 1928-1975

Society of Graphical and Allied Trades 1966-1991

Formed in 1966 by the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding & Paper Workers NUPBPW, and the National Society of Operative Printers & Assistants NATSOPA.

200 Years of Trade Union activity in the Printing and paper workers Industry, one of consistent mergers prior to where they were in 1966. In 1899 the Printers & Stationers Warehousemen, Cutters & Assistants was formed who later merged with the Amalgamated Society of Printers to form the National Amalgamated Society of Printers, Warehousemen & Cutters.

This union absorbed the

Manchester Printers & Stationers

Cutters Union in 1901 and the

National Bookfolders & Kindred

Trades Union in 1903 and the

Dublin Paper Cutters Society in 1904. SYMBOLS OF SOLIDARITY 8

The National Union of Paper Mill Workers (NUPMW) founded in 1890 merged with the above in 1914 to form the National Union of Print and Paper Workers.

The Male Relief Stampers Society merged with the NUPPW in1919. In 1835 the Bookbinders Consolidated Relief Fund was founded which developed into the Bookbinders Consolidated Union, the title of the union changed to Bookbinders & Machine Rulers Consolidated Union in 1872, this union absorbed some local London Societies and became the National Union of Bookbinders & Machine Rulers in 1911.

In 1921 the National Union of Bookbinders & Machine Rulers and the National Union of Printing of Printing & Paper Workers merged to form the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding, Machine Ruling & Paper Workers.

The London Union of Pressmen was formed in 1834 and split into two Societies in 1875, the London Union of Pressmen (amalgamated) and the old Society. In 1891 the old Society renamed itself the Amalgamated Association of Pressmen and joined the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding, Machine Ruling & Paper Workers. The National Platen Printing Machine Minders & Process Provers Society was formed in 1890 changed to Platen Printing Machine Minders Society and merged with the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding Machine Ruling & Paper Workers in 1924.

The London Society of Machine Rulers was formed in 1873 and merged with the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding Machine Ruling & Paper Workers.

In 1928 the NUPBWR&PW changed its name to the National Union of Printing Bookbinding & Paper Workers.

The Original Society of Papermakers was founded in 1800, in 1854 the United Brotherhood of Papermakers (UPB) was formed as a breakaway, the UPB split in 1869 into the United Brotherhood of Papermakers, and the Modern Society of Papermakers, reunited as the Amalgamated Society of Papermakers in 1894 In 1937 the Amalgamated Society of Papermakers merged with the NUPB&PW.

The Original Society of Papermakers merged with the NUPB&PW in 1948. The Amalgamated Typefounders Trade Society was founded in 1889, it became the Monotype Casters & Typefounders Society in 1937 and merged in 1962 with the NUPB&PW.

SOGAT officially became SOGAT 75 following the amalgamation with the Scottish Graphical Association. In 1982 SOGAT 75 and NATSOPA finally merged to become SOGAT 82 In 1991 they merged with the NGA to form the GPMU.

The National Graphical Association 1964-1991

Formed by the merger of two long term rivals, the

Typographical Association, and the London Typographical Society, and joined by many other print unions. some examples The Provincial Typographical Association established in 1849 dropped Provincial from its title to become the Typographical Association. The National Union of Press Telegraphists founded in 1909 merged with the NGA in 1965

The London Association of Correctors of the Press dropped London from its title in 1905 and merged with the NGA in 1965.

The Federated Society of Electrotyper’s & Stereotypers renamed the National Society of Electrotypers, Strereotypers and Assistants merged with the NGA in 1967.

The Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers & Auxiliaries formed in 1880 merged with the NGA, as did the Amalgamated Society of Machine Paper Strainers & Colour mixers’, Wallpaper Workers Union, Stamp Cutters Society and the National Union of Wallcoverings, Decorative & Allied Trades merged with the NGA in 1979.

The Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers & Process Workers SLADE &PW 1885-1982

The United Society of Engravers merged with them in 1972, who amalgamated with the NGA in 1982 to form NGA (82).

The NGA merged with SOGAT in 1991 to form the GPMU.

Formed from the merger of SOGAT and the NGA who in turn merged with AMICUS, who in turn merged with UNITE.

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