Collection

Printed proceedings of annual meetings, 1947-86; printed proceedings of special conferences, 1934-58; Railway Shopmen's National Council minutes, 1928-68 (incomplete); extensive post-war subject files (MSS.44). Executive Committee minutes (stencilled), 1946-84 (MSS.259/5). Coventry District minutes, 1940-3 (MSS.126), 1943-81 (MSS.208).

160 boxes (156 [MSS.44], 2 [MSS.259], 2 [787])

The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions was constituted in its present form in 1936 although it has its origins in the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades founded in 1891. A large confederation of nearly two and a half million members by 1977, the Confederation acted as a conduit through which allied Unions and trades could find representation with the Government. The Confederation grew stronger when the Amalgamated Engineering Union affiliated along with the Transport and General Workers' Union; the General and Municipal Workers' Union; the Electrical, Electronic Telecommunications and Plumbing Union; the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers. The CSEU was very successful in forming a working coalition with these Unions with very little friction. One of its achievements included the formal establishment of Joint Shop Stewards' Works Committees Reference: An introduction to the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions. 1966.

Unpublished records less that 30 years old are closed.

Open

The Centre also holds income and expenditure accounts of the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades, 1923-1929.