Associated Iron and Steel Workers of Great Britain

The Associated Iron and Steel Workers of Great Britain was a trade union representing people employed in iron- and steelworks in Britain.

The union was founded in 1887, following a conference organised by former members of the Amalgamated Malleable Ironworkers of Great Britain, which had been dissolved. In contrast to the earlier union, it also sought to unionise workers in the rapidly growing steelworks, and it had particular success in attracting contractors to join. By the end of the century, it had more than 8,000 members and was the largest metal working union in the UK, principally covering the North and Midlands of England.[1]

During the 1900s, the union lost members due to a decline in employment at ironworks, and through some potential members joining the rival British Steel Smelters Association. Both unions were members of the Trades Union Congress and their demarcation dispute came to head in 1909. The foundation of the loose Iron and Steel Trades Federation in 1913 did not solve the issue, but in the Associated began growing again and merged into the new British Iron, Steel and Kindred Trades Association in 1917, at which point it had just under 10,000 members.[1]

General Secretaries

1887: Edward Trow
1899: James Cox

References

  1. 1 2 Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.2, pp.272-273
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