Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers
Encyclopedia
The Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers (ASBSBSW) was a trade union
in the United Kingdom
.
The union was founded in 1852, when the Scottish Society of Boilermakers, the United Friendly Boilermakers' Society and the Amicable and Provident Society of Journeymen Boilermakers of Great Britain merged to form the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders. In 1952, it renamed itself as the United Society of Boilermakers, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers, then in 1963 it merged with the Associated Blacksmiths, Forge and Smithy Workers' Society and the Shipconstructors and Shipwrights' Association, adopting its final name.
In 1982, the union joined the National Union of General and Municipal Workers, which renamed itself as the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The union was founded in 1852, when the Scottish Society of Boilermakers, the United Friendly Boilermakers' Society and the Amicable and Provident Society of Journeymen Boilermakers of Great Britain merged to form the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders. In 1952, it renamed itself as the United Society of Boilermakers, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers, then in 1963 it merged with the Associated Blacksmiths, Forge and Smithy Workers' Society and the Shipconstructors and Shipwrights' Association, adopting its final name.
In 1982, the union joined the National Union of General and Municipal Workers, which renamed itself as the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union.
General Secretaries
- 1857: John Allen
- 1871: Robert KnightRobert Knight (trade unionist)Robert Knight was a British trade unionist.Born in Lifton, Devon, Knight followed his father in his trade as a blacksmith. From 1857, he worked at the Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth and became active in the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders, being elected as its...
- 1900: D. C. Cummings
- 1909: John HillJohn Hill (trade unionist)John Hill was a British trade union leader.Born in Govan, he worked in the Glasgow shipyards from the age of twelve, later taking an apprenticeship as a plater...
- 1936: Mark HodgsonMark HodgsonMark Hodgson was a British trade union leader.Born in Hull, Hodgson grew up in Sunderland, studying at Diamond Hall School before taking an apprenticeship as a plater in the shipyard. He joined the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders, and in 1913 became the Tyne and...
- 1948: Ted HillTed Hill (trade unionist)Edward James Hill, Baron Hill of Wivenhoe , known as Ted Hill, was a British trade unionist.Born in London, Hill served with the Royal Marine Engineers during World War I, joining the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders in 1916. He spent time mending boilers for P&O,...
- 1965: Danny McGarvey and John Chalmers
- 1977: John Chalmers
- 1980: Jim Murray