TASS growing stronger
National Union of Gold, Silver &
Allied Trades (NUGSAT)
The National Union of Gold, Silver &
Allied Trades (NUGSAT) was formed in 1911 when fifteen small unions
merged. Originally the Amalgamated Society of Gold, Silver and
Kindred Trades the Society decided to change its name when it
joined with the Birmingham Silversmiths & Electroplate
Operatives Society in 1914. It had around 1,600 members when it
joined the TASS section of the AUEW in 1981.
National Society of Coppersmiths,
Braziers & Metal Workers
The National Society of Coppersmiths,
Braziers & Metal Workers began its days in 1846 as the London
& Provincial Society of Coppersmiths. It refused to amalgamate
with other similar unions in 1920 and stayed as an independent
union until 1959 when with a membership of about 6,000 it merged
with the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers & Braziers to
form the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers & Coppersmiths.
The title National Union of Sheet Metal Workers, Coppersmiths,
Heating & Domestic, Engineers (NUSMWCH&D) was adopted in
1967 when the Sheet Metal Workers & Coppersmiths amalgamated
with the Heating & Domestic Engineers Union. The union with a
membership of more than 57,000 merged with TASS in
1985.
Birmingham & Midland Sheet Metal
Workers Society
Founded about 1870 as a tin plate workers
union the Birmingham & Midland Sheet Metal Workers Society
decided on that name in 1909. It remained an independent union
until 1973 when it merged with the National Union of Sheet Metal
Workers, Coppersmiths, Heating & Domestic Engineers
(NUSWCH&DE).
Heating & Domestic Engineers Union
(HDEU)
Registered as a trade union in 1874 as the
Amalgamated Stove, Grate and Kitchen Range Fitters Protection
Society the Heating & Domestic Engineers Union (HDEU) had a
multitude of names before it adopted the simple HDEU title in 1956.
However the union also enjoyed a longer name, the National Union of
Heating & Domestic & Ventilating Engineers & General
Metal Workers. It joined with the National Union of Sheet Metal
Workers & Coppersmiths in 1967 to form the National Union of
Sheet Metal Workers, Coppersmiths, Heating & Domestic
Engineers.
National Union of Sheet Metal Workers
& Braziers
In 1920 the National Amalgamation of Tin
Plate Workers and the General Union of Braziers & Sheet Metal
Workers merged to form the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers
& Braziers. Prior to 1920 there had been a multitude of Sheet
Metal Workers unions but in July of that year the National Union
was formed. In 1959 the union joined forces with the Coppersmiths
to form the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers &
Coppersmiths.
United Patternmakers Association (UPA)
& APAC
This union was created in 1872 as the result
of a strike in an attempt to achieve a nine hour day. Initially
named the United Kingdom Patternmakers Association with branches in
Sunderland and Newcastle it eventually extended its organisation
into Yorkshire and Lancashire. The union dropped Kingdom from its
title and became the United Patternmakers Association (UPA). In
1969 it again changed its name becoming the Association of
Patternmakers & Allied Craftsmen (APAC). The Association had
refused to consider amalgamation with the AEU in 1920 and remained
an independent union until it eventually merged with AUEW/TASS in
1985
National Society of Metal Mechanics
(NSMM)
The National Society of Metal Mechanics
(NSMM) was formed as the Amalgamated Brass Workers Society in 1872
at a meeting in Birmingham Town Hall. Within four months the union
had attracted almost 6,000 members. Following several name changes
over the years the union adopted the NSMM title in 1945. The union
had its headquarters in Birmingham and at its peak had a membership
of 50,000. The Society joined TASS in 1985.
Tobacco Workers Union (TWU)
Beginning its life in 1834 as the Friendly
Society of Operative Tobacconists the Tobacco Workers Union (TWU)
changed its name a number of times during its history. The union
began to recruit women members in 1918 and quickly increased its
membership. Due to membership disputes with some of the general
unions the union was outside the TUC from 1926 to 1941. In 1986 the
union merged with TASS.
AUEW becomes AEU after departure of TASS
On May 1st 1986 following the decision of
TASS to go its own way and become an independent union the AUEW
again adopted its previous title Amalgamated Engineering Union
(AEU). At the time the union had just under a million members in
2,597 branches with a Head Office at 110, Peckham Road in South
East London.
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