The Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT) was a British trade union in the printing industry.

History SOGAT was formed in 1966 by the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers and the National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants (NATSOPA). The National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers became the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades Division A and NATSOPA became the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades Division 1. The aim was to achieve a complete merger over time, but differences led to in-fighting and in 1970 the two divisions split, Division A retaining the name Society of Graphical and Allied Trades and Division 1 becoming the National Society of Operative Printers, Graphical and Media Personnel (but retaining the NATSOPA acronym).

In 1975, SOGAT officially became the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades 1975 (SOGAT '75) after amalgamation with the Scottish Graphical Association. In 1982, SOGAT '75 and NATSOPA finally amalgamated to become the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades 1982 (SOGAT '82). In 1991, SOGAT '82 merged with the National Graphical Association to form the Graphical, Paper and Media Union, which subsequently merged with Amicus to become that union's Graphical, Paper and Media industrial sector.

Election results The union did not initially sponsor Parliamentary candidates, but shortly after the 1979 general election, it changed its policy. It sponsored Bob Litherland's successful candidacy in the 1979 Manchester Central by-election, and also began sponsoring Ron Leighton, who was already a sitting Member of Parliament.

Election Constituency Candidate Votes Percentage Position 1979 by-election Manchester Central 7,494 70.7 1 1983 general election Manchester Central 27,353 65.3 1 Newham North East 19,282 49.7 1 1987 general election Manchester Central 27,428 68.2 1 Newham North East 20,220 51.9 1

General Secretaries 1966: Tom Smith 1970: Vincent Flynn 1975: Bill Keys 1982: Bill Keys and Owen O'Brien 1985: Brenda Dean

Presidents 1966: John McKenzie 1967: Vincent Flynn 1970: Bill Keys 1975: Albert Powell 1983: Brenda Dean 1985: Danny Sergeant

References

External links Catalogue of the SOGAT archives, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick Catalogue of the Printing Machine Branch archives, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick