Irish Transport and General Workers' Union
Encyclopedia
The Irish Transport and General Workers Union, an Irish
trade union
, was founded by James Larkin
in 1908 as a general union. Initially drawing its membership from branches of the Liverpool
-based National Union of Dock Labourers
, from which Larkin had been expelled, it grew to include workers in a range of industries. The ITGWU logo was the Red Hand of Ulster
, which is synonymous with ancient Gael
ic Ulster
.
The ITGWU was at the centre of the Dublin Lockout
in 1913 and the events left a lasting impression on the ITGWU and hence on the Irish Labour Movement
.
After Larkin's departure for the United States
in 1914 in the wake of the Lockout, William X. O'Brien
became the union's leading figure. He later served as general secretary for many years.
In 1924, Larkin's brother Peter formed a new union, the Workers' Union of Ireland
, to which many of the ITGWU's Dublin members affiliated. The ITGWU nevertheless remained the dominant force in Irish trade unionism, especially outside the capital. William O'Brien and James Larkin remained bitter personal enemies, and when Larkin and his supporters were readmitted into the Labour Party in the early 1940s, O'Brien engineered a split in the party, with the new National Labour Party
claiming that the main party had been infiltrated by communists. A further split occurred in the Irish Trade Union Congress
when that body accepted the WUI's membership in 1945. The ITGWU left the Congress and established the rival Congress of Irish Unions
.
From the 1950s on proposals to merge the two unions were floated. Finally, in 1990, the ITGWU merged with the Workers's Union of Ireland to form the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union
(SIPTU).
The ITGWU should not be confused with the British
-based Transport and General Workers Union, which also organises in Ireland under the name Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU).
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
trade 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...
, was founded by James Larkin
James Larkin
James Larkin was an Irish trade union leader and socialist activist, born to Irish parents in Liverpool, England. He and his family later moved to a small cottage in Burren, southern County Down. Growing up in poverty, he received little formal education and began working in a variety of jobs...
in 1908 as a general union. Initially drawing its membership from branches of the Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
-based National Union of Dock Labourers
National Union of Dock Labourers
The National Union of Dock Labourers was a trade union in the United Kingdom. It was formed in Glasgow in 1889 but moved its headquarters to Liverpool within a few years and was thereafter most closely associated with Merseyside...
, from which Larkin had been expelled, it grew to include workers in a range of industries. The ITGWU logo was the Red Hand of Ulster
Red Hand of Ulster
The Red Hand of Ulster is a symbol used in heraldry to denote the Irish province of Ulster. It is less commonly known as the Red Hand of O'Neill. Its origins are said to be attributed to the mythical Irish figure Labraid Lámh Dhearg , and appear in other mythical tales passed down from generation...
, which is synonymous with ancient Gael
Gaël
Gaël is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of Brittany in north-western France.It lies southwest of Rennes between Saint-Méen-le-Grand and Mauron...
ic Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
.
The ITGWU was at the centre of the Dublin Lockout
Dublin Lockout
The Dublin Lock-out was a major industrial dispute between approximately 20,000 workers and 300 employers which took place in Ireland's capital city of Dublin. The dispute lasted from 26 August 1913 to 18 January 1914, and is often viewed as the most severe and significant industrial dispute in...
in 1913 and the events left a lasting impression on the ITGWU and hence on the Irish Labour Movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
.
After Larkin's departure for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1914 in the wake of the Lockout, William X. O'Brien
William X. O'Brien
William X. O'Brien was a politician and trade unionist in Ireland.Born in Clonakilty, County Cork, O'Brien moved with his family to Dublin in 1897, and quickly became involved in the Irish Socialist Republican Party...
became the union's leading figure. He later served as general secretary for many years.
In 1924, Larkin's brother Peter formed a new union, the Workers' Union of Ireland
Workers' Union of Ireland
The Workers' Union of Ireland , later the Federated Workers' Union of Ireland, was an Irish trade union formed in 1924. In 1990, it merged with the Irish Transport and General Workers Union to form the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union .- Formation :The WUI was formed in 1924...
, to which many of the ITGWU's Dublin members affiliated. The ITGWU nevertheless remained the dominant force in Irish trade unionism, especially outside the capital. William O'Brien and James Larkin remained bitter personal enemies, and when Larkin and his supporters were readmitted into the Labour Party in the early 1940s, O'Brien engineered a split in the party, with the new National Labour Party
National Labour Party
*National Labour Organisation *National Labour Party *National Labor Party *National Labour Party *National Labour Party *National Labour Party...
claiming that the main party had been infiltrated by communists. A further split occurred in the Irish Trade Union Congress
Irish Trade Union Congress
The Irish Trade Union Congress was a union federation covering the island of Ireland.Until 1894, representatives of Irish trade unions attended the British Trades Union Congress. However, many felt that they had little impact on the British body, and decided to form their own federation. This...
when that body accepted the WUI's membership in 1945. The ITGWU left the Congress and established the rival Congress of Irish Unions
Congress of Irish Unions
The Congress of Irish Unions was one of the two governing bodies that emerged after the split in the Irish trade union body the Irish Trade Union Congress in 1945. The split developed under pressure from an anticipated fresh labour-state relationship, and alleged 'British domination in ITUC'...
.
From the 1950s on proposals to merge the two unions were floated. Finally, in 1990, the ITGWU merged with the Workers's Union of Ireland to form the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union
SIPTU
SIPTU , or in Irish: CSTGT is Ireland's largest trade union, with around 200,000 members. Most of these members are in the Republic of Ireland, although the union does have a Northern Ireland branch...
(SIPTU).
The ITGWU should not be confused with the British
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...
-based Transport and General Workers Union, which also organises in Ireland under the name Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union (ATGWU).
General Secretaries
- 1909: James LarkinJames LarkinJames Larkin was an Irish trade union leader and socialist activist, born to Irish parents in Liverpool, England. He and his family later moved to a small cottage in Burren, southern County Down. Growing up in poverty, he received little formal education and began working in a variety of jobs...
- 1924: William X. O'BrienWilliam X. O'BrienWilliam X. O'Brien was a politician and trade unionist in Ireland.Born in Clonakilty, County Cork, O'Brien moved with his family to Dublin in 1897, and quickly became involved in the Irish Socialist Republican Party...
- 1946:
- 1948: Frank Purcell
- 1959: Fintan KennedyFintan KennedyFintan Kennedy was an Irish trade unionist.The son of Tom Kennedy, a prominent trade unionist, Kennedy joined the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union in 1934, rising to serve as General Secretary of the union from 1959, then as General President from 1969...
- 1969: Michael Mullen
- 1981: Chris Kirwan
General Presidents
- 1909: Thomas Foran
- 1939: Tom Kennedy
- 1946: William McMullenWilliam McMullenWilliam McMullen , sometimes known as Billy McMullen, was an Irish trade unionist and politician.Born into a Protestant family in Belfast, McMullen began working in the shipyards and became an active trade unionist...
- 1953: John Conroy
- 1969: Fintan KennedyFintan KennedyFintan Kennedy was an Irish trade unionist.The son of Tom Kennedy, a prominent trade unionist, Kennedy joined the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union in 1934, rising to serve as General Secretary of the union from 1959, then as General President from 1969...
- 1981: John CarrollJohn Carroll (trade unionist)John F. Carroll is a former Irish trade union leader. He was vice-president of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union from 1969 to 1981, when the became the union's president until its merger in 1990 with the Federated Workers' Union of Ireland to form the new Services, Industrial,...