National Association of Theatrical Television and Kine Employees
Encyclopedia
The National Association of Theatrical Television and Kine Employees (NATTKE) was an entertainment
trade union
in the United Kingdom
.
The union was founded in the aftermath of a strike at the Adelphi Theatre
in London in 1890, as the United Kingdom Theatrical and Music Hall Operatives' Union. By the turn of the century, it had become a national organisation, and in 1901 renamed itself the National Union of Theatrical Stage Employees. In 1902, it affiliated to the Trades Union Congress
.
In 1904, the union began recruiting workers in cinemas, and renamed itself the National Association of Theatrical Employees, not crediting its cinema staff in the union name until 1936, when it became the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees. In 1932, Tom O'Brien
was elected General Secretary, a post he was to hold until 1970 - including fourteen years during which he was a Labour Party
Member of Parliament
.
The union began organising some television
workers, and in 1970 changed its name for the final time to credit them. It began organising among bingo hall staff, and in 1983 it merged with the National Association of Executives Managers and Staffs.
In 1984, the NATTKE merged with the Association of Broadcasting Staff
to form the Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance
.
The merged union created by NATTKE and the ABS was briefly known as ETA before becoming BETA.
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
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...
in the United Kingdom
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...
.
The union was founded in the aftermath of a strike at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
in London in 1890, as the United Kingdom Theatrical and Music Hall Operatives' Union. By the turn of the century, it had become a national organisation, and in 1901 renamed itself the National Union of Theatrical Stage Employees. In 1902, it affiliated to the Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
.
In 1904, the union began recruiting workers in cinemas, and renamed itself the National Association of Theatrical Employees, not crediting its cinema staff in the union name until 1936, when it became the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees. In 1932, Tom O'Brien
Tom O'Brien (UK politician)
Thomas 'Tom' O'Brien was a British trade unionist and Labour Party politician, and a Member of Parliament from 1945 to 1959....
was elected General Secretary, a post he was to hold until 1970 - including fourteen years during which he was a Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
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,...
.
The union began organising some television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
workers, and in 1970 changed its name for the final time to credit them. It began organising among bingo hall staff, and in 1983 it merged with the National Association of Executives Managers and Staffs.
In 1984, the NATTKE merged with the Association of Broadcasting Staff
Association of Broadcasting Staff
The Association of Broadcasting and Allied Staffs was a British broadcasting trade union.The organisation was founded in 1945 with the merger of the BBC Staff Association and the Association of BBC Engineers to form the BBC Staff Association...
to form the Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance
Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance
The Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance was a short-lived British entertainment trade union. It was founded in 1984 with the merger of the Association of Broadcasting Staff and the National Association of Theatrical Television and Kine Employees.The union appointed two General...
.
The merged union created by NATTKE and the ABS was briefly known as ETA before becoming BETA.