Reference number
  • TGW
Date
  • 1920-2008
Level
  • Collection
Description
  • This is a large and complex collection. There is an online guide to assist researchers to find what they are looking for (http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/explorefurther/subject_guides/tgwu/).
Extent
  • 1182 boxes (920 [MSS.126], 1 [MSS.435], 56 [645], 29 [684], 1 [709], 63 [787], 45 [879], 58 [964], 2 [1029], 7 [1086])
Admin history
  • The Transport and General Workers' Union was formed in 1922 by the amalgamation of fourteen unions: the Amalgamated Society of Watermen, Lightermen and Bargemen; the Amalgamated Carters, Lurrymen and Motormen's Union; the Amalgamated Association of Carters and Motormen; the Associated Horsemen's Union; the Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Workers' Union of Great Britain and Ireland; the Labour Protection League; the National Amalgamated Labourers' Union of Great Britain and Ireland; the National Union of Docks, Wharves and Shipping Staffs; the National Association of Ships' Clerks, Grain Weighers and Coalmeters; the National Union of Vehicle Workers; the National Amalgamated Coal Workers' Union of Inland and Seaborne Coal Workers; the North of England Trimmers and Teemers' Association; the North of Scotland Horse and Motormen's Association; and the United Vehicle Workers.

    The TGWU continued to absorb many other trade unions, notably the National Union of Dock, Riverside and General Workers in Great Britain and Ireland in 1922, the Workers' Union in 1929, the National Association of Operative Plasterers in 1968, the Chemical Workers' Union in 1971, the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers in 1981, and the National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers in 1982.

    On 1 May 2007 the T&G amalgamated with Amicus to form the T&G Section of the new Unite the Union.
Appraisal
  • This collection has been weeded for duplicates.
Access Conditions
  • Prior written permission to consult almost all unpublished records in this archive is required. Researchers should apply to Mr Jim Mowatt, Director of Education at the successor union UNITE, Transport House, 128 Theobald's Road, Holborn, London WC1X 8TD, or by e-mail care of Joan Francis (Joan.Francis@unitetheunion.org). Publications may be consulted without permission. Unpublished material less than 20 years old is closed without special permission.
Access status
  • Open
Related Material
  • See also MSS.126 (all deposits made by TGWU head office), MSS.74 (Ben Tillett Papers), MSS.282 (Frank Cousins Papers), MSS.360 (National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers' Society), MSS.208 (Coventry District and Rugby Branch), MSS.245 (5/195 Black Country Transport Branch), MSS.356 (Rover Solihull 5/357 Branch), MSS.251 (West Midlands Region), 923 (1/1647 International Workers' Branch: Papers of Alvaro de Miranda).