.gif)
General Federation of Trade Unions (UK)
Encyclopedia
The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) is a national trade union centre in the United Kingdom
. It has 35 affiliates with a membership of just over 214,000 and describes itself as the '"federation for specialist unions"'.
which resulted in a defeat for engineering workers.
The view that it was necessary to develop a strong, centralised trade union organisation by forming a federation, which had been rejected only two years earlier, was now endorsed at the Trade Union Congress of September 1897. This resulted in the establishment of the General Federation of Trade Unions at a special Congress of the TUC in 1899, the principal objective of which was to set up a national organisation with a strike fund which could be drawn upon by affiliated trade unions.
GFTU participated in the foundation of the International Federation of Trade Unions
at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
in July 1919.
The Governing Body is the Biennial General Council Meeting, attended by delegates from affiliated Unions, at which policy and rule changes are debated and an Executive Committee of 14 members elected to meet on a monthly basis between Biennial General Council Meetings.
The Federation undertakes its Parliamentary activities by working closely with John Mann
MP
, Member of Parliament
Bassetlaw
Constituency, particularly in respect of proposed legislation.
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...
. It has 35 affiliates with a membership of just over 214,000 and describes itself as the '"federation for specialist unions"'.
History
In the 1890s, the development of socialist organisations and socialist thinking also found expression in the British trade union movement. Many of the new unions formed during that period were committed to the socialist transformation of society and were critical of the conservatism of the craft unions. The debate revolved around concept of building “one-big-union” which would have the resources to embark on a militant course of action and even change society. This thinking gained strength after the 1897 Engineering Employers Federation lockoutLockout (industry)
A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. This is different from a strike, in which employees refuse to work.- Causes :...
which resulted in a defeat for engineering workers.
The view that it was necessary to develop a strong, centralised trade union organisation by forming a federation, which had been rejected only two years earlier, was now endorsed at the Trade Union Congress of September 1897. This resulted in the establishment of the General Federation of Trade Unions at a special Congress of the TUC in 1899, the principal objective of which was to set up a national organisation with a strike fund which could be drawn upon by affiliated trade unions.
GFTU participated in the foundation of the International Federation of Trade Unions
International Federation of Trade Unions
The International Federation of Trade Unions was an international organization of trade unions, existing between 1919 and 1945. IFTU had its roots in the pre-war IFTU....
at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in July 1919.
Current role
The GFTU now concentrates on servicing the needs of specialist unions. It does this by providing courses, undertaking research for its affiliated Unions and administering a Pension Scheme for officials and staff of affiliated Unions. In keeping with its original objectives, the Federation pays dispute benefit in appropriate cases to affiliated Unions.The Governing Body is the Biennial General Council Meeting, attended by delegates from affiliated Unions, at which policy and rule changes are debated and an Executive Committee of 14 members elected to meet on a monthly basis between Biennial General Council Meetings.
The Federation undertakes its Parliamentary activities by working closely with John Mann
John Mann (politician)
John Mann is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw since 2001, after the retirement of previous MP Joe Ashton.John Mann serves on the Treasury Select Committee...
MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Bassetlaw
Bassetlaw
Bassetlaw is the northernmost district of Nottinghamshire, England, with a population according to the 2001 UK census of 107,713. The borough is predominantly rural, with two towns: Worksop, site of the borough offices, and Retford...
Constituency, particularly in respect of proposed legislation.
Full members
- Association for College ManagementAssociation for College ManagementThe Association for College Management was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded in 1965 as the Association of Vice-Principals of Colleges, representing middle managers in colleges of further and higher education. In 1987, it was renamed the Association of College Management,...
- Association of Educational PsychologistsAssociation of Educational PsychologistsThe Association of Educational Psychologists is a trade union in the United Kingdom.The British Psychological Society represented educational psychologists until 1962, when it received chartered status...
- Bakers, Food and Allied Workers UnionBakers, Food and Allied Workers UnionThe Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union is a trade union in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1847 in Manchester, it is a trade-based union of workers in the food industry....
- Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre UnionBroadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre UnionThe Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union is a trade union in the United Kingdom. It has around 26,500 members who work in broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure and interactive media....
(BECTU) - Card Setting Machine Tenters' Society
- CommunityCommunity (trade union)Community is a UK trade union representing workers in the iron and steel, domestic appliance manufacturing, clothing, textiles, footwear and betting industries as well as workers in voluntary organisations, workshops for visually impaired and disabled people, community-care providers and housing...
(formerly ISTCIron and Steel Trades ConfederationThe Iron and Steel Trades Confederation was a British trade union for metal-workers and allied groups. It was formed on 1 January 1917 as a merger of existing steel-workers' unions and it is now part of Community.- History :...
& KFATNational Union of Knitwear, Footwear & Apparel TradesThe National Union of Knitwear, Footwear & Apparel Trades was a trade union in the United Kingdom.It was formed in 1991 through the amalgamation of the National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers and the National Union of the Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades...
) - ConnectConnect (trade union)Connect is a former British trade union representing approximately 20,000 workers in the communications industry. Connect's President is Denise McGuire The final general secretary was Adrian Askew...
(formerly STE) - Community and Youth Workers' UnionCommunity and Youth Workers' UnionThe Community and Youth Workers Union was a British trade union created in 1938 by ten female voluntary sector workers. It is now a section of the Transport and General Workers' Union...
- Engineering and Fastener Trade UnionEngineering and Fastener Trade UnionThe Engineering and Fastener Trade Union was a trade union in the West Midlands of England.The union was founded in 1914 as the Screw Nut Bolt and Rivet Trade Union. It represented workers who used machinery to make screws, nuts, bolts and rivets. As the hand-made section of the industry declined,...
- General Union of Loom Overlookers
- Institute of Football Management Administration
- League Managers AssociationLeague Managers AssociationThe League Managers Association is the organisation which collectively represents all Premiership and Football League managers in English football...
- Musicians' UnionMusicians' Union (UK)-About the MU:The Musicians' Union is an organisation which represents over 30,000 musicians working in all sectors of the UK music business.-Campaigns:The MU stages regular campaigns in relation to relevant musical and industrial issues...
- National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and ShotfirersNational Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and ShotfirersThe National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers represents colliery deputies and under-officials in the coal industry. NACODS was established as a national organisation in 1910...
(NACODS) - National Association of Probation OfficersNational Association of Probation OfficersThe National Association of Probation Officers is the trade union that represents probation officers and Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service reporters in the United Kingdom.NAPO was formed in 1912...
(NAPO) - National Union of JournalistsNational Union of JournalistsThe National Union of Journalists is a trade union for journalists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and has 38,000 members. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists .-Structure:...
- Professional Cricketers Association
- Professional Footballers Association
- Professional Rugby Players Association
- Retail Book, Stationery and Allied Trades Employees Association
- Society of Union Employees
- UnityUnity (trade union)Unity, formerly the Ceramic and Allied Trades Union, is a British trade union, created in the early 19th century to protect pottery workers from dangerous conditions of their field. In 2006 it changed its name to Unity....
(formerly CATU)
Associate members
- AMICUSAmicusAmicus was the United Kingdom's second-largest trade union, and the largest private sector union, formed by the merger of Manufacturing Science and Finance, the AEEU agreed in 2001, and two smaller unions, UNIFI and the GPMU...
Metal Mechanics Sector - AMICUSAmicusAmicus was the United Kingdom's second-largest trade union, and the largest private sector union, formed by the merger of Manufacturing Science and Finance, the AEEU agreed in 2001, and two smaller unions, UNIFI and the GPMU...
Scalemakers Craft Section - AMICUSAmicusAmicus was the United Kingdom's second-largest trade union, and the largest private sector union, formed by the merger of Manufacturing Science and Finance, the AEEU agreed in 2001, and two smaller unions, UNIFI and the GPMU...
UTW - GMB Clothing and Textile Section
- GMB Construction, Furniture, Timber and Allied Section
- GMB Scottish Lace and Textile Workers' Branch
- PCSPublic and Commercial Services UnionThe Public and Commercial Services Union is the sixth largest trade union in the United Kingdom. Most of its members work in government departments and other public bodies although some work for private companies.- Membership and organisation :...
DCA AMO Group - TGWU Asphalt Workers Branch
- TGWU Craft/Staff Branch
- TGWU Jute and Flax Branches
- TGWU National Association of Licensed House Managers – National Branch
- TGWU National Lock and Metal Workers Branch
- TGWU Northern Carpet Trades' Union
- TGWU Yorkshire Association of Power Loom Overlookers' Branch
- TGWU Lancashire Box, Packing Case and General
- Woodworkers' Society Branch
See also
- List of trade unions
- List of federations of trade unions
- Trades Union CongressTrades Union CongressThe Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
- Scottish Trades Union CongressScottish Trades Union CongressThe Scottish Trades Union Congress is the co-ordinating body of trade unions, and local Trades Councils, in Scotland. With 39 affiliated unions as of 2007, the STUC represents around 630,000 trade unionists....
- Irish Congress of Trade UnionsIrish Congress of Trade UnionsThe Irish Congress of Trade Unions , formed in 1959 by the merger of the Irish Trade Union Congress and the Congress of Irish Unions , is a national trade union centre, the umbrella organisation to which trade unions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland affiliate.-Influence:There...
External links
- GFTU official site.