National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives
Encyclopedia
The National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives (NUBSO) was a trade union
in the United Kingdom
.
The union was founded in 1873, when many rivet
ers and finishers left the Amalgamated Association of Boot and Shoemakers (AABS). They were dissatisfied by their low status within the old union, and instead formed the National Union of Boot and Shoe Rivetters and Finishers (NUBSRF). Membership of the new union grew rapidly, reaching 10,000 by 1887. The General Union of Clickers and Rough-stuff Cutters merged with the NUBSRF in 1892, but most of its members left again in 1895.
The union organised a 34-week strike in 1897, in support of a minimum wage
and a 54-hour week, but this was unsuccessful. It renamed itself as the "National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives", and joined the General Federation of Trade Unions
the following year. It absorbed the AABS in 1916, and membership rose over 100,000 by 1920, although it soon fell to around 80,000. Members in the Republic of Ireland
left in 1953, to form the Irish Shoe and Leather Workers Union.
A major decline in the British shoe-making industry led the union to merge with the Amalgamated Society of Leather Workers, the National Union of Glovers and Leather Workers and the National Union of Leather Workers and Allied Trades in 1971, forming National Union of Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades
.
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 1873, when many rivet
Rivet
A rivet is a permanent mechanical fastener. Before being installed a rivet consists of a smooth cylindrical shaft with a head on one end. The end opposite the head is called the buck-tail. On installation the rivet is placed in a punched or pre-drilled hole, and the tail is upset, or bucked A rivet...
ers and finishers left the Amalgamated Association of Boot and Shoemakers (AABS). They were dissatisfied by their low status within the old union, and instead formed the National Union of Boot and Shoe Rivetters and Finishers (NUBSRF). Membership of the new union grew rapidly, reaching 10,000 by 1887. The General Union of Clickers and Rough-stuff Cutters merged with the NUBSRF in 1892, but most of its members left again in 1895.
The union organised a 34-week strike in 1897, in support of a minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
and a 54-hour week, but this was unsuccessful. It renamed itself as the "National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives", and joined the General Federation of Trade Unions
General Federation of Trade Unions (UK)
The General Federation of Trade Unions is a national trade union centre in the United Kingdom. It has 35 affiliates with a membership of just over 214,000 and describes itself as the "federation for specialist unions".-History:...
the following year. It absorbed the AABS in 1916, and membership rose over 100,000 by 1920, although it soon fell to around 80,000. Members in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
left in 1953, to form the Irish Shoe and Leather Workers Union.
A major decline in the British shoe-making industry led the union to merge with the Amalgamated Society of Leather Workers, the National Union of Glovers and Leather Workers and the National Union of Leather Workers and Allied Trades in 1971, forming National Union of Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades
National Union of Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades
The National Union of Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded in 1971, with the merger of the Amalgamated Society of Leather Workers, the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives, the National Union of Glovers and Leather Workers and the...
.
General Secretaries
- 1874: Thomas Smith
- 1878: George Sedgwick
- 1886: William Inskip
- 1899: W. Boyd HornidgeW. Boyd HornidgeW. Boyd Hornidge was a British trade unionist.Born in London, Hornidge left school before the age of nine. In 1876 he became a laster, joining the National Union of Boot and Shoe Riveters and Finishers , and serving on its London branch committee. However, he struggled to find work an, in search...
- 1908: Edward L. PoultonEdward L. PoultonEdward L. Poulton was a British trade unionist.Poulton was born in Northampton and worked making boots and shoes from an early age. He joined the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives in 1887, and was appointed secretary of its Northampton branch four years later...
- 1930: George Chester
- 1949: Lionel Poole
- 1960: Richard Gregson
General Presidents
- 1893: W. Boyd HornidgeW. Boyd HornidgeW. Boyd Hornidge was a British trade unionist.Born in London, Hornidge left school before the age of nine. In 1876 he became a laster, joining the National Union of Boot and Shoe Riveters and Finishers , and serving on its London branch committee. However, he struggled to find work an, in search...
- 1899: Charles Freak
- 1910: Thomas Frederick RichardsThomas Frederick RichardsThomas Frederick Richards was a British trade unionist and Labour Party politician. Born in Wednesbury, in the English Black Country, he was the son of a commercial traveller. Following an elementary education, he started work at the age of eleven. He moved to Leicester, a centre for the...
- 1930: William R. Townley
- 1938: Len Smith
- 1944: James Crawford
- 1957: Sydney A. Robinson