The Engineers' and Managers' Association (EMA) was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

representing managers in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

, principally those in the engineering industry. The union was founded in 1913 as the Association of Electrical Station Engineers, and before the end of the year changed its name to the Association of Electrical Engineers. In 1917, it became the Electrical Power Engineers' Association (EPEA), and it came to greater prominence the following year, after the Electrical Trades Union was prohibited from negotiating for managers in the electricity industry.Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, ''Historical Directory of British Trade Unions'', vol.1, pp.83-84 The union joined the

Trades Union Congress The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a national trade union centre A national trade union center (or national center or central) is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a country. Nearly every country in the world has a national tra ...

(TUC) in 1942, but was expelled in 1972 for registering under the

Industrial Relations Act The Industrial Relations Act 1971 (c.72) was an Act of Parliament, Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, since repealed. It was based on proposals outlined in the governing Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party's manifesto for the 197 ...

, against TUC policy, but it rejoined in 1973. In 1976, the union decided to recruit managers and engineers from other industries, and the following year, the Association of Supervisory and Executive Engineers joined, the EPEA soon after adopting its final name. In 1979, the British Aerospace Staffs Association and the Professional Staffs Association also joined. This expansion was opposed by the

Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs The Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs (ASTMS) was a British trade union which existed between 1969 and 1988. History The ASTMS was created in 1969 when ASSET (the Association of Supervisory Staffs, Executives and Techni ...

, and by the

Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section The Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section (TASS) was a British trade union. History The union was founded in 1913 by 200 draughtsmen, as the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen (AESD). It expanded rapidly, and ...

. The EPEA remained a largely autonomous section of the merged union until 1993. For many years, the union refused to join the

Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU), often known as the Confed is a trade union confederation in the United Kingdom. History The confederation was founded in December 1890 as the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuil ...

, something which prompted criticism from other unions in the field. In 2001, it merged with the

Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists The Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists (IPMS) was a trade union representing managers and other people with professional qualifications in the United Kingdom, with a majority of members working in the civil service. History ...

to form Prospect.Neela Bettridge and Philip Whiteley, ''New Normal, Radical Shift'', p.51

General Secretaries

:1920: W. Arthur Jones :1946: J. F. Wallace :1952:

Harry Norton Harry Norton (15 October 1907''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007'' – 27 August 1976) was a British trade union leader. Norton joined the National and Local Government Officers' Association The National and Local Gove ...

:1973: John Lyons :1991: Tony Cooper

References

1913 establishments in the United Kingdom Organizations disestablished in 2001 Trade unions established in 1913 Trade unions disestablished in 2001 Trade unions based in Surrey