National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants
Encyclopedia
The National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants (NATSOPA) was a British
trade union
.
Formed as part of the New Unionism
movement in September 1889, the union was originally named the Printers' Labourers' Union and was led by George Evans. In 1899, it was renamed the Operative Printers' Assistants Union, and in 1904 it became the National Society of Operative Printers' Assistants, taking the acronym NATSOPA for the first time. In 1911, it assumed its long-term name, the "National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants". By this point, it had 4,722 members, and it grew rapidly, having 25,000 members in 92 branches by 1929.
In 1966, the union merged with the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers
, becoming Division 1 of the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades
(SOGAT), but in 1970 the failure to agree a common rulebook led to Division 1 leaving to become the National Society of Operative Printers and Media Personnel. In 1972, it merged with the Sign and Display Trade Union
, and in 1982 it again merged with SOGAT, on this occasion the merger proving successful.
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...
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...
.
Formed as part of the New Unionism
New Unionism
New Unionism is a term which has been used twice in the history of the labour movement, both times involving moves to broaden the trade union agenda.-1880s:First was the development within the British trade union movement in the late 1880s...
movement in September 1889, the union was originally named the Printers' Labourers' Union and was led by George Evans. In 1899, it was renamed the Operative Printers' Assistants Union, and in 1904 it became the National Society of Operative Printers' Assistants, taking the acronym NATSOPA for the first time. In 1911, it assumed its long-term name, the "National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants". By this point, it had 4,722 members, and it grew rapidly, having 25,000 members in 92 branches by 1929.
In 1966, the union merged with the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers
National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers
The National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers was a British trade union.The union was founded in 1921 as the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding, Machine Ruling and Paper Workers when the National Union of Bookbinders and Machine Rulers and the National Union of Printing and...
, becoming Division 1 of the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades
Society of Graphical and Allied Trades
The Society of Graphical and Allied Trades was a British trade union in the printing industry.SOGAT was formed in 1966 by the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers and the National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants...
(SOGAT), but in 1970 the failure to agree a common rulebook led to Division 1 leaving to become the National Society of Operative Printers and Media Personnel. In 1972, it merged with the Sign and Display Trade Union
Sign and Display Trade Union
The Sign and Display Trade Union was British trade union that existed between 1917 and 1972.Formed in 1917 as the National Union of Sign, Glass and Ticket Writers and Kindred Trades it represented workers engaged as a sign, glass, poster or ticket writer, or in any branch of subsidiary and allied...
, and in 1982 it again merged with SOGAT, on this occasion the merger proving successful.
General Secretaries
- 1889: George Evans
- 1890: Thomas O'Grady
- 1897: Michael Vaughan
- 1898: Edwin Smith
- 1909: George IsaacsGeorge IsaacsGeorge Alfred Isaacs JP DL was a British politician and trades unionist who served in the government of Clement Attlee....
- 1948: Harry Good
- 1951: Richard Briginshaw
- 1975: Owen O'Brien