Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU)
The Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) was formed in 1920 when
ten engineering unions the largest being the ASE with over 320,000
members amalgamated. The new union opened its ranks to include all
workers, craftsmen and non-craftsmen in the engineering industry.
The result of the amalgamation was a total membership of more than
450,000. Apprentices had been admitted into the ASE in 1892 but it
wasn’t until 1937 that the AEU was able to persuade employers to
agree to negotiating rights for them. In 1943 women and girls were
admitted into membership and in 1947 the AEU became a member of the
Confederation of Shipbuilding & Engineering Unions (CSEU).
Due to fluctuations in the fortunes of the engineering industry
the union membership fell from 460,297 in 1920 to 191,539 in 1931
but by 1943 had risen to 908,893.
In 1967 the union joined with the Amalgamated Union of Foundry
Workers to form the Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry
Workers (AEF) The Steam Engine Makers Society was formed in
Liverpool in 1824 and recruited skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled
workers.
It refused to amalgamate with others to form the ASE in 1851 and
remained independent until 1920 when after a ballot of its members
it was one of the unions which joined together to form the AEU. It
was one of the founder members of the Federation of Engineering and
Shipbuilding Trades in 1891 when it had a membership of over 6,000.
By the end of the First World War the membership had grown to more
than 17,800.
The Engineers - continued
