Symbols of Solidarity Vol. 5 Issue 2.

Welcome to this edition of the magazine and again our thanks to the WCML for allowing us the chance to photograph some of their files we are using to illustrate and add to the articles.

We are hoping to cover

Building/Constructions Unions next time so if you have any badges currently not in the guide, or indeed anything unusual we would like some photos to assist us please.

Also, we hope to do something on the GFTU and the display of badges currently being organised, watch this space!

We have illustrated specific unions when requested, and will continue to do so, but we do need your assistance, there are lots of collections, knowledge, and info to tap into!

So, Articles, photos, badges to sell/swop, ideas, and suggestions for future publications can be sent in at any time, this is important if we are to sustain four publications per year.

For collectors of trade union badges and ephemera

e-mail:stevewbaguley@hotmail.com

website: https://tubcs.wordpress.com

is sponsored by the Communication

The Trade Union Badge Collectors Society

Workers Union

Anniversary of the UCS occupation

Australian Shipbuilding Unions

Trade Union Badge Collectors Society

Boilermakers, Shipwrights Blacksmiths and Structural Workers Unions

The Society was formed in 1834 as the Society of Friendly Boilermakers.

It changed its name to the United Friendly Boilermakers' Society in 1845, and to the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders in 1852, when the Scottish Society of Boilermakers and the Provident Society of Journeymen Boilermakers of Great Britain were merged with it.

The United Society of Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers was formed in October 1962 by the amalgamation of the United Society of Boilermakers, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers with the Associated Blacksmiths', Forge and Smithy Workers' Society.

A year later the union amalgamated with the Ship Constructors and Shipwrights Association to form the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers Shipwrights Blacksmiths and Structural Workers.

In 1952 it changed its name to the United Society of Boilermakers, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers.

In October 1962 it amalgamated with the Associated Blacksmiths', Forge and Smithy Workers' Society to form the United Society of Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers.

The Associated Society of Shipwrights was formed in 1872. By 1882 it had absorbed most of the local societies of shipwrights and absorbe Ship Constructive Association in 1907 changing its name to the Ship Constructive and Shipwrights Association in 1908

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association 25mm x 22mm

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association 24mm

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association 19mm

42mm x 32mm

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association 23mm

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association 23mm

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association 21mm

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association 23mm

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association 22mm

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association 22mm

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association

Shipconstructors & Shipwrights Association Liverpool International Shipwrights Friendly Society

Liverpool Shipwrights Association Society of Shipwrights & Others

United Society of Boilermakers & Iron & Steel Shipbuilders 23mm

United Society of Boilermakers & Iron & Steel Shipbuilders 23mm

United Society of Boilermakers & Iron & Steel Shipbuilders 23mm gold

United Society of Boilermakers & Iron & Steel Shipbuilders 20mm x27mm

United Society of Boilermakers & Iron & Steel Shipbuilders 33mm

The United Society of Boilermakers & Structural Workers 23mm

Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers Shipwrights Blacksmiths & Structural Workers 27mm x 33mm

Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers Shipwrights Blacksmiths & Structural Workers

Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers Shipwrights Blacksmiths & Structural Workers 24mm

Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers Shipwrights Blacksmiths & Structural Workers 15mm

Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers Shipwrights Blacksmiths & Structural Workers

United Society of Boilermakers & Iron & Steel Shipbuilders centenary 1834

United Society of Boilermakers & Structural Workers 125th anniversary 1959

Associated Blacksmiths & Iron Workers Society

Associated Blacksmiths Forge & Smithy Workers Society 23mm x 25mm

Associated Blacksmiths Forge & Smithy Workers Society 23mm x 25mm

John Hill Boilermakers Society General Secretary 1909-1936 and Gold fob.

1834 Friendly Society of Boilermakers

1845-1852 United Friendly Boilermakers Society

1834-1852 Scottish Society of Boilermakers

1849- 1852 Amicable and Provident Society of Journeymen Boilermakers

1852-1952 United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders

1867 National Association of Operative Boilermaker’s and Iron Ship Builders

1889-1895 Steel and Iron Shipbuilders Boiler and Gasometer Makers of London and District

1889-1895 Steel and Iron Shipbuilders Boiler and Gasometer Makers Trade Union of Great Britain and Ireland

1892-1903 Devon Port Dockyard Iron Caulkers Society

1903-1915 Royal Dockyard Iron and Steel Shipbuilders Society

1912-1963 Ship Constructors and Shipwrights Association

1952-1963 United Society of Boilermakers and Structural Workers

1925-1963 Associated Blacksmiths’ Forge and Smithy Workers’ Society

1963-1982 Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers Shipwrights Blacksmiths and Structural Workers

1974-1982 General and Municipal Workers Union

1982 General Municipal Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union

ASBSBSW familytree

1Boilermakers

1911-1977 Laminated & Coil Spring Workers Union

1898-1911 Combined Smiths of Great Britain

1849-1911 Cooperative Society of Smiths

1857-1873 Scottish United Operative Blacksmiths' Protective and Friendly Society

1873-1885 Associated Blacksmiths of Scotland

1889-1910 United Society of Smiths and Hammermen

1896-1910 London & Provincial Hammermen’s Association

1885-1909 Associated Blacksmiths' Society

1910-1914 National United Society of Smiths and Hammermen

1909-1925 Associated Blacksmiths' and Ironworkers' Society

1925-1962 Associated Blacksmiths' Forge and Smithy Workers' Society

1911- 1912 Blacksmiths' Union

1886-1918 United Smiths Trade Union of Ireland

1845-1882 Glasgow Shipwrights’ Protective and Friendly Society

? – 1882 Govan Shipwrights’ Society

? – 1882 Dundee Shipwrights’ Society

? – 1882 Dumbarton Shipwrights’ Society

? – 1882 Clydebank Shipwrights’ Society

? -1882 Greenock Shipwrights Provident Union Society

? – 1882 Jarrow Shipwrights’ Society

? -1882 Walker Shipwrights’ Society

1871-1892 Runcorn Shipwrights’ Society

1823-1893 South Shields Shipwrights United Society

1852-1893 Cardiff Shipwrights Provident and Benefit Society

1855-1893 Passage West Shipwrights Benefit Society, Cork

1861-1893 Wexford Shipwrights' Benefit Society Association

1887-1893 City of Dublin Shipwrights Benevolent Trade Union

1855-1893 Belfast Shipwrights' Benevolent Society

1858 - 1903 Gloucester Shipwrights' Provident Benefit and Friendly Society

1846 – 1898 Hylton Shipwrights Association

1846 – 1908 Wear Shipwrights' Benevolent Society [including Hylton Shipwrights]

1882-1908 Associated Society of Shipwrights

1889 – 1896 United Society of Drillers and Hole Cutters of Hartlepool

1890 – 1896 Cleveland Drillers and Hole Cutters Society

1896 – 1909 Amalgamated Society of Drillers and Hole Cutters

1908 – 1910 Ship Constructive and Shipwrights’ Association

1888 -1896 Amalgamated Society of Drillers of Stockton on Tees

1889 – 1892 Rose of Tyne Society of Drillers and Cutters

1890 – 1897 Drillers Union (Glasgow)

Shipwrights

1889 -1899 Onward Society of Drillers and Hole Cutters of Stockton upon Tees

1910 – 1963 Ship Constructors and Shipwrights’ Association

? – 1882 Aberdeen Shipwrights’ Society

? – 1882 Tyne (Hebburn) Shipwrights’ Provident Society

? – 1882 Leith Shipwrights’ Trade Protection Society

1889 – 1893 Newry and Warrenpoint Shipwrights Benefit Society

1889 -1894 Liverpool Provident Shipwrights’ Society

pP

1856 – 1894 Queenstown Shipwrights’ Benefit Society

1848 - 1897 Liverpool Mast and Block Makers Society

1872 - 1898 Wear Boat Builders Benevolent Society (Monkseaton)

1874 – 1899 River Thames Shipwrights’ Protective and Benefit Society

1840 – 1899 Boat Builders’ Union of the River Thames

1858 - 1903 Newport-Monmouth Shipwrights' Society

1889 – 1908 London and District Society of Drillers

1882 -1908 Shipwrights and Shipwrights' Ironworks Society

1844-1919 Liverpool Shipwrights Trade and Friendly Association

Upper Clyde Shipbuilders 50th anniversary

In June 1971 the privately owned shipyards of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders went into receivership.

But instead of accepting redundancy the large workforce occupied the affected sites and began a “Work In”

The STUC called a special conference on 16th of August 1971 and a resolution was carried to organise a one-day stoppage in support of the UCS across the whole of Scotland.

The struggle was supported throughout the UK workers everywhere were inspired by the sense of Unity.

over 200,000 workers stopped work in Scotland and over 80.000 went on the Demo in Glasgow, solidarity.

This epic struggle was commemorated with a significant event in Glasgow 2021 to mark the 50Th Anniversary. Also produced was a badge in recognition.

The UCS “Work In” lasted over 6 months and in February 1972 the Government was forced to step in to the tune of £35 Million and commit to supporting a number of companies providing shipbuilding on the Clyde.

Australian Ship Building Unions

The Union was first registered federally in January 1916 as the Federated Shipwrights of Australia. In September 1916 it changed its name to the Federated Shipwrights' Ship Constructors' & Boat Builders' Association of Australia and in 1917, the union became the Federated Shipwrights Ship Constructors Naval Architects Ships Draughtsmen and Boat Builders of Australia.

The Boilermakers' and Blacksmiths' Society of Australia was formed in 1965 when members of the deregistered Blacksmiths' Society of Australia joined the Boilermakers' Society of Australia. In 1973 it joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union and the Sheet Metal Workers to form the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union.

The Blacksmiths' Society of Australasia formed around 1912 and was registered in 1916. In 1954 the union became known as the Blacksmiths' Society of Australia until it was deregistered in 1965. Members of the union joined the Boilermakers' Society of Australia which became the Boilermakers' & Blacksmiths' Society of Australia in 1965.

In 1933 it changed its name again to the Federated Shipwrights' & Ship Constructors' Association of Australia. Operating until 1976 the Federated Shipwrights' & Ship Constructors' Association amalgamated with the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union to form the Amalgamated Metal Workers' & Shipwrights' Union.

The Boilermakers' Society originated directly from the Federated Society of Boilermakers & Iron Shipbuilders of Australia which was registered federally in 1911, and became the Federated Society of Boilermakers Iron Shipbuilders & Structural Iron & Steel Workers of Australia in 1929.

By 1937 the union had become the Boilermakers' Society of Australia. In 1965 the members of the deregistered Blacksmiths' Society of Australia joined the union and it became the Boilermakers' and Blacksmiths' Society of Australia.

The Boilermakers' Society of Australia, Adelaide Branch was originally the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders of South Australia founded on 31 August 1880 at Port Adelaide (Glanville) and called the Port Lodge.

Another branch was established in Adelaide on 21 December 1882. By 1911 it had become the Adelaide branches of the Federated Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders Society of Australia, a predecessor to the Boilermakers' Society of Australia.

Formed in 1945, the ShipJoiners' Society of Australia operated until 1975 when it was deregistered. It was separate from but related to the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners as the second badge indicates.

Thus, it was connected to the anti-Communist ASCJ NOT THE

LEFT WING UNION

The first Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners of Australia was originally registered as the Australian District of Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners in 1911. By the end of 1922 the name had been amended to become the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners of Australia [ASC&J].

The Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia however, functioned for just three more years until it was deregistered in 1948. The name Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners was ultimately taken over by a rival, anti-Communist breakaway in 1950. The Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia was eventually reregistered in 1962.

In 1931 a Ship Joiners & Aircraft Workers Union of NSW was registered but no records of it seem to be around.

The Federated Ship Painters' and Dockers' Union of Australia was registered under the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act (1904) in 1916, and had New South Wales, Victorian and Federal branches. It was deregistered in 1993.

It represented labourers in the shipbuilding industry, covering "mostly work associated with chipping, painting, scrubbing [and] cleaning [ships], working in every size of tanks, cleaning boilers, docking and undocking vessels, and rigging work”

After folding in the 1890s world depression, the Balmain Labourers Union were reborn in 1900. Later that same year the Ironworkers Assistants set up their own union and the Balmain Labourers became the Ship Painters and Dockers.

This original ASC&J operated until the end of the Second World War when its name was changed to the Building Workers' Industrial Union of Australia in 1945.

Issy Wyner: “Its field of work still covered a wide variety of activities in, on and around ships in docks, on slipways, at wharves and moorings in the Harbour: from ship's truck to keelson, from stem to stern, mostly work associated with chipping, painting, scrubbing, cleaning, working in every size of tanks, cleaning boilers, docking and undocking vessels, and rigging work. Many among the membership were seamen who had come ashore to settle down to a shore job and found that they could apply their seagoing skills and knowledge to the variety of tasks of Painters and Dockers. Seamen, among them some who had spent time on sailing ships as well as steamships, possessed great ability in the use of wire and hempen rope, and they found an important place in rigging gangs. Ships' firemen, too, had a place in the industry in cleaning and servicing ships boilers.”

http://www.takver.com/history/ myunion/myunion01.htm

Ship Painters banner on eight-hour march 1928

Federated Society of Boilermakers & Iron Shipbuilders of Australia 32mm x 27mm

Boilermakers Society of Australia 22mm x 22mm Silver

United Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders NSW Branch 32mm x 26mm Silver

United Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders Victoria Branch 32mm x 26mm Silver

Boilermakers Society of Australia 18mm x 18mm Brass

Blacksmiths Society of Australasia 29mm x 23mm Silver

Blacksmiths Society of Australia 29mm x 23mm Brass

Boilermakers and Blacksmiths Society of Australia 22mm x 22mm Silver: Brass: Chrome

Port Phillip Shipwrights and Ship Constructors Association Brass

Federated Shipwrights and Ship Constructors Association of Australia 21mm x 23mm Brass

Shipwrights Provident Union of New South Wales 37mm x 27mm Silver: Gold

Ship Joiners Society 16mm x 29mm Brass

Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners 29mm x 24mm Brass

Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners 29mm x 24mm Brass

Federated Ship Painters & Dockers Union 28mm x 25mm Brass

Federated Ship Painters & Dockers Union 23mm Tin

Federated Ship Painters & Dockers Union Victorian Branch 23mm x 22mm Brass

Federated Ship Painters & Dockers Union 27mm x 27mm Brass

Federated Ship Painters & Dockers Union 22mm x 22mm Brass

Federated Ship Painters & Dockers Union NSW 29MM X 25mm Brass

Federated Ship Painters & Dockers Union 25mm x 20mm Brass

Federated Ship Painters & Dockers Union

Federated House and Ship Painters and Decorators Employees Association of Australia 27mmx 29mm Brass

1911-1929 Federated Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders of Australia

1929-1937 Federated Society of Boilermakers and Structural Iron and Steel Workers of Australia

1937-1965 Boilermakers Society of Australia

1954-1965 Blacksmiths Society of Australia

1965-1972 Boilermakers and Blacksmiths Society of Australia

1911-1954 Blacksmiths Society of Australasia

1921-1972 Amalgamated Engineering Union

1945-1972 Sheet Metal Working Agricultural Implement & Stove Making Industrial Union

1972-1976 Amalgamated Metal Workers Union

Brisbane Shipwrights Provident Union

Port Adelaide Shipwrights Society

Shipwrights Provident Union of NSW

Port Phillip Shipwrights Society

1916-1916 Federated Shipwrights of Australia

1916-1917 Federated Shipwrights Ship Constructors & Boat Builders Association of Australia

1917-1933 Federated Shipwrights Ship Constructors Naval Architects Ships Draughtsmen and Boat Builders of Australia

1933-1976 Federated Shipwrights and Ship Constructors Association of Australia

1976 Amalgamated Metal Workers and Shipwrights Union

The National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers Union

The union was founded in 1871 as the Labour Protection League, in response to the East and West India Dock Company attempting to cut dockers pay by 25%.

amalgamation but a large number of members didn’t agree with the amalgamation and left the union to join the Amalgamated Stevedores' Labour Protection League. Because of this the League was renamed the National Amalgamated Stevedores, Lightermen, Watermen and Dockers.

In August and September 1954 over 2000 Hull dockworkers quit the Transport and General Workers Union as they felt that the union did not support them in their dispute, and joined the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers Union.

Within a few years, the union's executive decided to change its name to the Amalgamated Stevedores' Labour Protection League, and this prompted the corn porters to leave the union.

In 1927 the watermen, lightermen and bargemen left the union and formed their own Watermen, Lightermen, Tugmen and Bargemen's Union the stevedores union becoming the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers Union (NASD) with members in London and Rochester.

Over the next nine months dockers in Manchester, Liverpool and Birkenhead left the TGWU and joined the NASD.

The union took part in the discussions to form the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) in 1922, but its members voted against joining the amalgamation.

The Amalgamated Society of Watermen, Lightermen and Bargemen joined the TGWU

The TUC ruled that the NASD should return all its members in the Northern ports to the TGWU. The NASD refused to abandon its Northern members and was expelled from the TUC in 1959.

On Monday May 28, 1955 the union began an official strike for recognition that lasted six weeks but still did not gain recognition.

After the strike the NASD expelled a number of the NASD lay officers in the Northern ports for ‘bringing the union in to disrepute’.

The officers took the NASD to court and won their reinstatement. The NASD never gained recognition in the northern ports.

In 1972 the union celebrated its centenary.

The election of Jack Jones as General Secretary of the TGWU led to an improvement of relations with the NASD. In 1982 NASD merged with the TGWU.

Odds and Ends

TUBCS Newsletter issue 98, in 1998, had a 9-page article on the Grunwick dispute, a strike fighting for trade union rights. Consideration is being given to an illustrated updated article of this epic struggle.

There was some concerted Postal support at the time with postal workers at the Cricklewood office blacking the companies mail for 38 days, and the UPW London No 3 District Council giving full active support.

The UPW was sanctioned by the high court during the dispute.

WCML hold some files on the strike, and we know of several strike bulletins issued.

Follow up from previous issues, badges for identification and anything else you want to send in.

Following on from our article on FTAT in the last edition these three images are copies of original designs of some of the badges we listed.

We are keen to uncover any leaflets/ stickers that are in collections, and what, if any badges were issued other than the button shown, especially UPW and Brent Trades Council material, at the moment we only have hearsay from an ex local rep.

CWU HQ Research dept have provided an extensive chronology of the dispute, which is extremely useful, any other ephemera will be most welcome.

TUC Library Collections have a few posters/leaflets on their web site http: unionhistory.info contact has been made with Brent Trades Council, instrumental in the support and help they provided during the strike.

Stuff is out there, as are the collectors, so if you can help it would be most appreciat

The hexagon shape changed to a shield, same words and the Norwich support group badge signifies Night time, the witch, which refers to Barnoldwick and the Pendle witches, thanks for sending them in.

This set of badges were issued by the water unions as part of a campaign against water privatisation.

Available now, free from the website. Please let us know any information we have missed so we can update it.

Trade Union Journals

The Modern Records Centre at Warwick University have digitised a number of old union Journals and have made them available free on line.

Journals of the National Agricultural Labourers' and Rural Workers' Union / National Union of Agricultural Workers 1915-1950

Reports and returns, 1872-1876, 1880-1885 for the Associated Carpenters' and Joiners' Society of Scotland

Journal of the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers 1921

Journal of the Building and Monumental Workers' Association of Scotland 19241935, 1939-1941

Journal of the Railway Clerks' Association 1904 1908-1941

Journal of the National Union of Clerks 1908-1912, 1916-1931, 1938-1939

Journal of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Rivetters and Finishers / National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives 1877-1886

Journal of the Amalgamated Union of Clothiers' Operatives 1898-1900

Journal of the Fire Brigades Union 1932-2001

Journal of the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen 1918-1920

Journal of the National Union of Foundry Workers 1920-1923

'The Asylum News', 1906 Journal of the Asylum Workers' Association

Journal of the National Asylum Workers' Union 1912-1929

Journal of the Poor Law Workers' Trade Union / Poor Law Officers' Union1920-1930

Journal of the Confederation of Health Service Employees1946-1950

Journal of the Liverpool Victoria Workers' Union 1915-1919

Journal of the National Association of Local Government Officers 1911-1920

Journal of the National Union of Public Employees 1929-1936

Journal of the Postmen's Federation 1895-1918

Journal of the Typographical Association 1874-1879, 1915-1919

Journal of the United Commercial Travellers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland 1883-1920

Journal of the National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers 1921-1922, 19241930

Journal of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants / National Union of Railwaymen 1880-1892, 1898-1920

Journal of the General Railway Workers' Union 1896-1901

Journal of the Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Workers' Union of Great Britain and Ireland 1901-1921

Journal of the Railway Clerks' Association

Journal of the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union / National Union of Seamen 1908, 1911-1946

Journal of the National Transport Workers' Federation 1911

Journal of the Transport and General Workers' Union 1921-1931