The Ironfounding Workers' Association 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 foundry workers 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 in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

History

In 1888, there was a strike in

Falkirk Falkirk ( gd, An Eaglais Bhreac, sco, Fawkirk) is a large town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire. It lies in the Forth Valley, northwest of Edinburgh and northeast of Glasgow. Falkirk had a ...

of un-unionised light casting moulders. The strike was successful in obtaining a 5% pay rise, but many of its leaders were blacklisted. They decided to form the Central Ironmoulders' Association of Scotland, established in April 1889 and initially having 256 members. By the end of the year, it had five branches around Scotland, and 740 members. Its leaders supported the new unionism approach, with low membership fees and very limited financial benefits for members, but instead a focus on campaigning for better pay and conditions at work.Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.2, p.40

Hugh Lyon Hugh Lyon (19 September 1872 – 1940) was a Scottish trade union leader. Born in Glasgow, Lyon grew up in Falkirk. He left school at the age of eleven to work alongside his father at a local foundry. He joined the Falkirk Central Iron ...

became

shop steward A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company who represents and defends the interests of their fellow employees as a labor union member and official. Rank-and-file members of the union hold ...

at the Carron Iron Works in Falkirk, where the union only had 12 members. He eventually recruited all 500 workers at the plant. In part due to Lyon's work, the union grew steadily, reaching 3,150 members in 1900. In 1906, it began recruiting in England, and by 1914 it had 6,500 members. To better reflect its membership, in 1926 it was renamed as the "Ironfounding Workers' Association". In 1946, it merged with the

National Union of Foundry Workers The National Union of Foundry Workers (NUFW) was a trade union representing workers in foundries in the United Kingdom. History The union was founded in 1920 with the merger of the Associated Iron Moulders of Scotland, the Amalgamated Society of ...

and the

United Metal Founders' Society United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two fi ...

to form the

Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers __NOTOC__ The Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers (AUFW) was a trade union representing workers in foundries in the United Kingdom. The union was founded in 1946 with the merger of the National Union of Foundry Workers, the Ironfounding Workers' ...

Election results

The union sponsored a Labour Party candidate at the

1918 UK general election The 1918 United Kingdom general election was called immediately after the Armistice with Germany which ended the First World War, and was held on Saturday, 14 December 1918. The governing coalition, under Prime Minister David Lloyd George, sent ...

: Labour Party (1918), ''Report of the Seventeenth Annual Conference of the Labour Party'', p.192 {, class="wikitable sortable" ! Constituency !! Candidate !! Votes !! % !! Position , - ,

Stirling and Falkirk Stirling and Falkirk is a lieutenancy area of Scotland. It consists of the local government areas of Stirling and Falkirk Falkirk ( gd, An Eaglais Bhreac, sco, Fawkirk) is a large town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically wit ...

, , {{sortname, Archibald, Logan, Archibald Logan (trade unionist) , , 5,201 , , 35.7 , , 2

General Secretaries

:1888: John Waddell :1897: Hugh Murdoch

References

Trade unions established in 1889 Trade unions disestablished in 1946 Foundry workers' trade unions Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom