The National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers (NUAW) was a
trade union in the
United Kingdom which existed between 1906 and 1982. It represented
farmworkers.
History
The union was established as the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union at a conference of Norfolk agricultural workers at the Angel Hotel,
North Walsham on 20 July 1906. Its first president was
George Nicholls, its secretary (on 13 shillings a week) was
George Edwards and its treasurer was
Richard Winfrey. The other members of its executive committee were J. Binder, J. Sage, William G. Codling, Herbert Day, J. Bly, C. Holman and J. Stibbins.[2]
In 1910 major strikes and disputes broke out in the Norfolk villages of
Trunch,
Knapton and St Faith's. At St Faith's, the 105 union men were on strike from May 1910 until February 1911 for 1 shilling a week extra.[2]
The organisation changed its name in 1910 to the National Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union.[2] Edwards stood down as Secretary in 1913, but then took up the post of President.[3] In 1920, the union became the National Union of Agricultural Workers, and in 1968 the "National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers".[2][4]
The union not only fought for worker's rights but also provide social activities.[5]
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 union worked closely with the
Labour Party from its early years.[6] 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.[7]
^Labour Party, Report of the Twenty-first Annual Conference of the Labour Party, p. 41
^
abcLabour 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.
^
abcLabour Party, Report of the Forty-Fifth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 232–248
^
ab"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.
^
ab"List of Parliamentary Labour candidates and election results, 25th October, 1951". Report of the Fiftieth Annual Conference of the Labour Party: 184–203. 1951.
^
abcLabour Party, Report of the Fifty-Fourth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 255–275
^
abcdLabour Party, Report of the Fifty-Eighth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 179–201
^
abcLabour Party, Report of the Sixty-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 158–180
^Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Fifth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 308–330
^
abLabour Party, Report of the Sixty-Ninth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 289–312
^Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 391–411
^Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Eighth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 406–431