Collection GB 0074 LMA/4428 - AMALGAMATED ENGINEERING UNION

0.30 linear metres

The Chelsea Branch collection was donated to the National Labour History Museum at Limehouse in 1978.

GB 0074 LMA/4428 1872-1986 Collection 0.30 linear metres Amalgamated Engineering Union
Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Machinists, Smiths, Millwrights and Patternmakers

Trade unionism in engineering first emerged in the 1780s when a Friendly Society of Mechanics was established in Bolton, Blackburn and Chorley. By 1799 employers in London asked Parliament to make it illegal for millwrights and engineers to combine. This resulted in the passing of the Combination Acts in 1799 and 1800. In the 1820s local engineering unions began to develop in industrial areas. This included the Steam Engine Makers' Society (1824), Friendly Society of Mechanics (1826) and the Friendly Society of Engineers (1833). In 1851 a successful attempt was made to form a national union. The result was the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Machinists, Smiths, Millwrights and Patternmakers, also known as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE), formed in 1852. William Allan was elected General Secretary and by 1861 it had 186 branches and over 33,000 union members.

In the 1880s the ASE became more militant. Important figures such as Tom Mann, John Burns, and George Barnes, took part in demonstrations including those held at Trafalgar Square on 13 February 1887, which turned into the riot known as Bloody Sunday. By 1890, the ASE was Britain's third largest union and in circa 1900 there were nearly 90,000 members. In 1920, the ASE merged with the Steam Engine Makers' Society, a union of engineers founded in Liverpool in 1824, which had taken part in the discussions which led to the creation of the ASE in 1851; the Amalgamated Society of General Toolmakers, Engineers and Machinists; and seven other unions to form the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU). During the late 20th century, the union's name changed to the Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers, and then the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union. By 2000, it was still one of Britain's largest unions. The union had branches throughout Britain and Commonwealth, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

The Chelsea Branch collection was donated to the National Labour History Museum at Limehouse in 1978.

Records deposited in August 2002.

Records of the Amalgamated Engineering Union. The collection has large gaps in the records. However, most of the material contains valuable details on engineers who were members of the union, and on those receiving benefits, for reasons including illness, accidents and deaths.

40% of material, including 20th century cash books and cheques books for Chelsea, Hackney, Saint Marylebone and Wembley Branches, was not considered worthy of long-term preservation, and therefore has been destroyed.

The collection is arranged into two branches: Chelsea Branch LMA/4428/01, and Hackney Branch LMA/4428/02.

These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.

Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.

English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

June to August 2010. Social welfare Engineering Societies Benevolent societies Finance Financial institutions Development aid Friendly societies Mutual aid Scientific personnel Scientists Engineers Labour relations Trade unions Organizations Associations Trade associations Amalgamated Engineering Union x AEU , Amalgamated Engineering Union Amalgamated Society of Engineers , Machinists , Smiths , Millwrights and Patternmakers Chelsea London England UK Western Europe Europe Kensington and Chelsea Hackney (district) Hackney Engineering personnel Personnel People by occupation People

Records deposited in August 2002.

Records of the Amalgamated Engineering Union. The collection has large gaps in the records. However, most of the material contains valuable details on engineers who were members of the union, and on those receiving benefits, for reasons including illness, accidents and deaths.

40% of material, including 20th century cash books and cheques books for Chelsea, Hackney, Saint Marylebone and Wembley Branches, was not considered worthy of long-term preservation, and therefore has been destroyed.

The collection is arranged into two branches: Chelsea Branch LMA/4428/01, and Hackney Branch LMA/4428/02.

These records are open to public inspection, although records containing personal information may be subject to closure periods.

Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London.

• anglais

• latin

English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• anglais