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National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers

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The National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers (NUAAW) was a trades union representing farmworkers in the United Kingdom. The Union was founded in 1906 by trade union activist George Edwards. It was dissolved in 1982 when it merged into the Agricultural Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers
AbbreviationNUAW, NUAAW
Merged intoTransport and General Workers' Union
(Agricultural Section)
Founded20 June 1906; 118 years ago (1906-06-20)
Dissolved1982; 42 years ago (1982)
TypeTrade union
Headquarters308 Gray's Inn Road, London
Location
Members
70,800 (1946)[1]
General Secretary
George Edwards (first)
Jack Boddy (last)
President
George Nicholls (first)
John Hose (last)
Treasurer
Richard Winfrey (first)
Publication
The Landworker
AffiliationsLiberal Party (1906–1911), TUC, Labour Party

In 1919, the union began publishing its journal The Landworker for its members. The journal remains in circulation, now published by the Agricultural Section of Unite the Union.

History

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Background

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The late 19th century saw the rise of the labour movement in the United Kingdom. As the movement grew in the agricultural sector, conflict increased between three main groups:[2]

In the early 1870s, British farmworkers began organising agricultural trade unions such as the Lincolnshire Labour League (later the Amalgamated Labour League), the Warwickshire Agricultural Labourers Union (later the National Agricultural Labourers' Union), and the Kent and Sussex Agricultural Labourers' Union. These unions initially achieved modest victories and growth, but a series of unsuccessful attempts to use collective action resulted in the decline and dissolution of early farmworkers' unions.[2]

After the victory of the Liberal Party in the 1906 UK general election, many farm owners were angered by the rejection of the Conservative Party. Farm owners took revenge by sacking and evicting farmers who they suspected of radical views or of Liberal sympathies.[2][3]

Formation and early years

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In Norfolk, farm workers sought the help of Liberal counciller and trade union activist George Edwards. Ewards had previously been involved with union organising, but initially believed he wasn't equal to the task.[3] After being convinced by his wife, Charlotte Edwards, George Edwards agreed to help establish a farmworker's union. In early June, Edwards began making use of his connections with union activists and Liberal members to raise funds.[3][2] While some supporting Liberals expressed scepticism, two Liberal MPs — George Nicholls and Richard Winfrey — pledged to attend the founding the conference in addition their donations.[3]

Through this, £10 in funds (equivalent to £1,359 in 2023) were raised. Although the cost of hosting a conference at the Angel Hotel in North Walsham was £11, Edwards himself funded the difference out of his own pocket.[4] With this, the conference was held on 20 July 1906, with attending Norfolk agricultural workers voting to establish the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union.[2][5]

George Edwards was the union's inaugural General Secretary, and was paid 13 shillings a week. Other leadership positions were held by George Nicholls, the union's first president, and Richard Winfrey, its first treasurer. The remainder of its Executive Committee consisted of J. Binder, J. Sage, William G. Codling, Herbert Day, J. Bly, C. Holman and J. Stibbins.[2][5] Much of the union's early leadership were trade union moderates associated with the Liberal Party, and shyed away from any actions they considered militant. George Edwards himself described strike action as a horror, and often worked to prevent strikes.[6]

The first three branches of the union were in Norfolk, One in St Faith's (former stronghold of Joseph Arch's old National Agricultural Labourers Union), one in Kenninghall, and one in Shipham.[5] By the end of 1906, the union had established fifty-seven branches, and had a total of 1,600 members.[2]

Split from the Liberals and affiliation to Labour

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In March 1910, major strikes for better pay and conditions broke out in the Norfolk villages of Trunch, and spread to Knapton and St Faith's.[6] At St Faith's, the 105 union men were on strike from May 1910 until February 1911 for 1 shilling a week extra.[5] The strike action was unsuccessful, with many union members supicious of the Liberal Party undermining them.[7] As a result, at the Union's February 1911 Fakenham conference, the Union's members voted to affiliate to the Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress (TUC).[6][7]

From 1911 until 1923, Walter Robert Smith was Honourary President of the Union.[8]

The organisation changed its name in 1912 to the National Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union (NALRWU), and in the same year officially registered as an Approved Society under the National Insurance Act 1911.[5][6][7] Through a £500 grant by the TUC (equivalent to £62,145 in 2023), in 1913 the union was able to afford two salaried organisers.[7] George Edwards stood down as General Secretary in 1913, then took up the post of President.[9]

Growing interest in the NALRWU in some regards outstripped the ability of the Union's head office to keep up. One such case 1912 appeals to expand the union's activity into Flintshire in Wales turned down.[10] Despite this, the NALRWU continued to grow. The Union entered Wales in Wrexham County joined with a campaign to strengthen its position in South-West Lancashire. When farmworkers in the area put forward demands for increased pay, they were denied and 2,000 workers went on strike.[10] The strike lasted two weeks, and received the support of the Ormskirk branch of the National Union of Railwaymen[10]

In 1920, the Union became the National Union of Agricultural Workers (NUAW).

Decline and amalgamation

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The post-war period in Britain saw a decline in the number of farmworkers from 750,000 in 1946 to under 200,000 in 1976. Over the same period, the NUAW lost half of its membership despite strong recruitment centred on agricultural auxillary workers—such as those working in the transport and retail of food and agriculutral goods.[11] In part reflecting this, in 1968 the Union took on its final name, the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers (NUAAW).[11][12]

In 1982, the union was dissolved and became part of the already existing Agricultural Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU). the TGWU itself merged with Amicus in 2007 to form Unite the Union. The NUAAW's contempoary successor is currently the Food, Drink and Agricultural Workers Section of Unite the Union, which operates the NUAAWs publication, The Landworker.[13][14]

Function and culture

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The Union not only fought for worker's rights but also provide social activities.[15]

The Union's stronghold was in Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Dorset with over 90% of agricultural labourers being in membership.[citation needed]

William "Bill" Holmes, NUAW General Secretary once told an audience of American trade unionists: "In many of our villages, a man who joins a trade union is worthy of the Victoria Cross that's won on a battlefield. In many villages he dare not be known to be a member of the union. But to be a branch secretary! That is to risk one's livelihood every day in the week".

The Dorset County Committee organises the annual Tolpuddle Martyrs festival along with the Trades Union Congress.

Election results

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The union worked closely with the Labour Party from its early years.[16] Until 1945, it contributed election expenses to some candidates, but no ongoing expenses to those who won election, and therefore it is often not listed as a sponsor in this period.[17]

Election Constituency Candidate Votes Percentage Position
1918 general election[18] King's Lynn Robert Barrie Walker 9,780 49.1 2
South Norfolk George Edwards 6,536 35.7 2
1920 by-election Horncastle William Holmes 3,443 18.8 3
1920 by-election[18] South Norfolk George Edwards 8,594 45.7 1
1921 by-election[19] Taunton James Lunnon 8,290 38.9 2
1922 general election[20] King's Lynn Robert Barrie Walker 8,683 32.7 2
South Norfolk George Edwards 10,159 44.4 2
Stafford Bill Holmes 7,672 41.1 2
1923 general election Ormskirk Robert Barrie Walker 9,388 47.0 2
South Norfolk George Edwards 11,682 51.9 1
1924 general election Ormskirk Robert Barrie Walker 10,402 43.7 2
South Norfolk George Edwards 11,376 44.5 2
1929 general election[16] East Norfolk Bill Holmes 7,856 23.4 3
1931 general election East Norfolk Bill Holmes 6,562 20.2 2
1945 general election[21] Barkston Ash Bert Hazell 24,322 49.9 2
Holland with Boston Arthur Monks 21,263 44.1 2
North Norfolk Edwin Gooch 17,753 58.7 1
1950 general election[22] Barkston Ash Bert Hazell 18,626 42.5 2
North Norfolk Edwin Gooch 19,790 48.0 1
1951 general election[23] Central Norfolk John Lambley 17,270 44.1 2
North Norfolk Edwin Gooch 21,067 50.3 1
1955 by-election South Norfolk John MacLennan Stewart 14,254 48.5 2
1955 general election[24] North Norfolk Edwin Gooch 20,899 51.5 1
South Norfolk John MacLennan Stewart 17,215 47.9 2
Worcester Leonard Pike 19,508 43.2 2
1959 by-election South West Norfolk Albert Hilton 15,314 50.6 1
1959 general election[25] North Norfolk Edwin Gooch 19,784 50.9 1
South Norfolk John MacLennan Stewart 16,542 46.2 2
South West Norfolk Albert Hilton 16,858 50.1 1
Taunton Leonard Pike 16,182 35.3 2
1964 general election[26] North Norfolk Bert Hazell 19,370 50.1 1
South West Norfolk Albert Hilton 16,605 49.2 2
Taunton Leonard Pike 16,619 36.2 2
1966 general election[27] North Norfolk Bert Hazell 20,796 50.9 1
1970 general election[28] Ludlow David Nagington 12,800 31.7 2
North Norfolk Bert Hazell 19,903 44.7 2
1974 Oct general election[29] Sheffield Brightside Joan Maynard 18,108 49.7 1
1979 general election[30] Sheffield Brightside Joan Maynard 25,672 68.5 1

Leadership

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General Secretaries

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1906: George Edwards
1913: Robert Barrie Walker
1928: Bill Holmes
1944: Alf Dann
1953: Harold Collison
1969: Reg Bottini
1978: Jack Boddy

Presidents

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1906: George Nicholls
1913: George Edwards[9]
1923: Bill Holmes[31]
1928: Edwin Gooch
1966: Bert Hazell
1978: John Hose

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Forty-Fifth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, p. 77
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Newby 1987, p. 161.
  3. ^ a b c d Groves 1981, p. 105.
  4. ^ Groves 1981, p. 106.
  5. ^ a b c d e Groves 1981.
  6. ^ a b c d Newby 1987, pp. 162.
  7. ^ a b c d Pretty 1989, p. 48–49.
  8. ^ "DEATH OF MR. W. R. SMITH". Northampton Mercury. 27 February 1942. Retrieved 17 November 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ a b Howkins, Alun (2004). "Edwards, Sir George (1850–1933), trade unionist and politician". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/48217. Retrieved 20 July 2024. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  10. ^ a b c Pretty 1989, p. 55–57.
  11. ^ a b Newby 1987, pp. 206–207.
  12. ^ Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.2, pp. 300–301
  13. ^ Campbell, Amanda (13 September 2019). "Celebrating rural workers and 100 years of The Landworker journal". LabourList. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  14. ^ "'The Land Worker', 1919-1950". warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  15. ^ The Museum of English Rural Life. "Berkshire darts tournament prize officiated by National Union for Agricultural Workers". www.reading.ac.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  16. ^ a b Griffiths, Clare (2007). Labour and the Countryside. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199287437.
  17. ^ Parker, James (2017). Trade unions and the political culture of the Labour Party, 1931–1940 (PDF). Exeter: University of Exeter. p. 179.
  18. ^ a b Howkins, Alun (1985). Poor Labouring Men. Routledge. ISBN 1315447827.
  19. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Twenty-first Annual Conference of the Labour Party, p. 41
  20. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Twenty-second Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 255–272. Note that this list is of the sanctioned candidates as of June 1922, and there were some changes between this date and the general election.
  21. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Forty-Fifth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 232–248
  22. ^ "List of Parliamentary Labour candidates and election results, February 23rd, 1950". Report of the Forty-Ninth Annual Conference of the Labour Party: 179–198. 1950.
  23. ^ "List of Parliamentary Labour candidates and election results, 25th October, 1951". Report of the Fiftieth Annual Conference of the Labour Party: 184–203. 1951.
  24. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Fifty-Fourth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 255–275
  25. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Fifty-Eighth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 179–201
  26. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 158–180
  27. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Fifth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 308–330
  28. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Ninth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 289–312
  29. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 391–411
  30. ^ Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Eighth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 406–431
  31. ^ Groves 1981, p. 104.

Works Cited

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