General Federation of Trade Unions (UK)

The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) is a national trade union centre in the United Kingdom. It has 35 affiliates with a membership of just over 214,000 and describes itself as the "federation for specialist unions".

History In the 1890s, the development of socialist organisations and socialist thinking also found expression in the British trade union movement. Many of the new unions formed during that period were committed to the socialist transformation of society and were critical of the conservatism of the craft unions. The debate revolved around concept of building "one-big-union" which would have the resources to embark on a militant course of action and even change society. This thinking gained strength after the 1897 Engineering Employers Federation lockout which resulted in a defeat for engineering workers.

The view that it was necessary to develop a strong, centralised trade union organisation by forming a federation, which had been rejected only two years earlier, was now endorsed at the Trades Union Congress of September 1897. This resulted in the establishment of the General Federation of Trade Unions at a special Congress of the TUC in 1899, the principal objective of which was to set up a national organisation with a strike fund which could be drawn upon by affiliated trade unions.

GFTU participated in the foundation of the International Federation of Trade Unions at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam in July 1919.

The federation has seen a large turnover of members, due largely to mergers in the movement. In 1979, its members were:Jack Eaton and Colin Gill, The Trade Union Directory (1979), pp.2-3

Amalgamated Association of Beamers, Twisters and Drawers Amalgamated Felt Hat Trimers', Woolformers' and Allied Workers' Union Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Felt Hatters and Allied Workers Amalgamated Textile Workers' Union Amalgamated Union of Asphalt Workers Associated Metalworkers' Union Card Setting Machine Tenters' Society Ceramic and Allied Trades Union Cloth Pressers' Society Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union General Union of Associations of Loom Overlookers Hinckley Dyers' and Auxiliary Association Huddersfield Healders and Twisters Trade and Friendly Society Jewel Case and Jewellery Display Makers' Union Lancashire Amalgamated Tape Sizers' Association Lancashire Box, Packing Case and General Woodworkers' Society National Association of Licensed House Managers National Society of Brushmakers and General Workers National Society of Metal Mechanics National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers National Union of Lock and Metal Workers National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers Nelson and District Association of Preparatory Workers Northern Carpet Trade Union Nottingham and District Dyers' and Bleachers' Association Rossendale Union of Boot, Shoe and Slipper Operatives Scottish Lace and Textile Workers' Union Screw, Nut, Bolt and Rivet Trade union Society of Shuttlemakers Tobacco Mechanics' Association Yorkshire Society of Textile Craftsmen

By 2016, none of the 1979 members remained as independent unions.

Current role The GFTU now concentrates on servicing the needs of specialist unions. It does this by providing courses, undertaking research for its affiliated Unions and administering a Pension Scheme for officials and staff of affiliated Unions. In keeping with its original objectives, the Federation pays dispute benefit in appropriate cases to affiliated Unions.

The Governing Body is the Biennial General Council Meeting, attended by delegates from affiliated Unions, at which policy and rule changes are debated and an Executive Committee of 14 members elected to meet on a monthly basis between Biennial General Council Meetings.

The Federation undertakes its Parliamentary activities by working closely with John Mann MP, Member of Parliament Bassetlaw constituency, particularly in respect of proposed legislation.

Affiliated unions Aegis the Union Artists' Union England Association of Educational Psychologists Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union Communication Workers' Union Community Coordinating Committee of International Staff Unions and Associations of the United Nations System Equal Justice The Union Gibraltar General and Clerical Association Hospital Consultants' and Specialists' Association Napo Nautilus International NHBC Staff Association Pharmacists' Defence Association POA Professional Cricketers' Association Professional Footballers' Association Psychotherapy and Counselling Union Public and Commercial Services Union Social Workers' Union Society of Union Employees Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) Workers' Educational Association

General Secretaries 1899: Isaac Mitchell 1907: William A. Appleton 1938: George Bell 1953: Leslie Hodgson 1978: Peter Potts 1991: Michael Bradley 2010: Doug Nicholls 2023: Gawain Little

Chairs Year Name Union1899National Union of Gasworkers and General Labourers1910General Union of Weavers and Textile Workers1912National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association1918Amalgamated Weavers' Association1920Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Felt Hatters1922National Union of Docks, Wharves and Shipping Staffs1924Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners and Twiners1926National Union of Stove Grate Workers1928Dundee and District Union of Jute and Flax Workers1930Wallpaper Workers' Union1932National Society of Pottery Workers1934Amalgamated Machine, Engine and Iron Grinders' and Glazers' Society1936Amalgamated Association of Card and Blowing and Ring Room Operatives1938Amalgamated Weavers' Association1940Amalgamated Textile Warehousemen's Association1942Rossendale Union of Boot, Shoe and Slipper Operatives1944National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers1946Yorkshire Association of Power Loom Overlookers1948Felt Hatters' and Trimmers' Unions of Great Britain1950Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners and Twiners1952National Association of Card, Blowing and Ring Room Operatives1954Wallpaper Workers' Union1956Chain Makers' and Strikers' Association1958Iron, Steel and Metal Dressers' Society1959National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives1961Rossendale Union of Boot, Shoe and Slipper Operatives1963General Union of Associations of Loom Overlookers1964National Society of Pottery Workers1965Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners and Twiners1966Yorkshire Association of Power Loom Overlookers1967Union of Jute, Flax and Kindred Textile Operatives1968Waterproof Garment Workers' Trade Union1969Amalgamated Weavers' Association1970National Union of Textile and Allied Workers1971General Union of Associations of Loom Overlookers1972Ceramic and Allied Trades Union1973Associated Metalworkers' Union1974National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers1975Rossendale Union of Boot, Shoe and Slipper Operatives1976Union of Jute, Flax and Kindred Textile Operatives1977Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers and Engravers1978Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union1979National Union of Lock and Metal Workers1980Amalgamated Union of Asphalt Workers1981Northern Carpet Trades Union1982Amalgamated Textile Workers Union1983National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers1984National Society of Metal Mechanics1985National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers1987GMB Union1989Rossendale Union of Boot, Shoe and Slipper Operatives1991Northern Carpet Trades Union1993Amalgamated Society of Textile Workers and Kindred Trades1995Associated Metalworkers Union1997National Union of Domestic Appliances and General Operatives1999Manufacturing, Science and Finance2001Community2003GMB Union2005Ceramic and Allied Trades Union2007Community and Youth Workers' Union2009Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union2011Community2013National Union of Journalists2015Prospect2017Musicians' Union2019Professional Footballers' Association2021Community2023Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union

General Federation of Trade Unions (UK)

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