The London Trades Council (1952) brought together

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 ( ...

s representing workers in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, in England.

History

The council was formed on the initiative of 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), which believed that the original

London Trades Council The London Trades Council was an early labour organisation, uniting London's trade unionists. Its modern successor organisation is the Greater London Association of Trades (Union) Councils History Leading figures in the London trade union mov ...

was dominated by the

Communist Party of Great Britain The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) was the largest communist organisation in Britain and was founded in 1920 through a merger of several smaller Marxist groups. Many miners joined the CPGB in the 1926 general strike. In 1930, the CPG ...

, and the new council explicitly excluded communists from membership, also prohibiting fascists from joining. Despite its official title, the council was founded in January 1953. The TUC de-recognised the old trades council, which was wound up later in the year. Unlike the old council, the new one did not act as a regional body for the local

trades council A labour council, trades council or industrial council is an association of labour unions or union branches in a given area. Most commonly, they represent unions in a given geographical area, whether at the district, city, region, or provincial or ...

s in the various areas of London, and so a London Federation of Trades Councils was also created, to fill that role. Despite the discontinuity, the new council came to claim the history of the original trades council, and celebrated its centenary in 1960. In 1974, the council drew up a women's charter, calling for equality in pay, opportunity, training and social services, and free nursery facilities, contraception and abortion services. Later in the year, both the council and the London Federation of Trades Councils were dissolved, and replaced by a new

Greater London Association of Trade Union Councils Greater London Association of Trade Union Councils (GLATUC) is the largest County Association of Trades (Union) Councils in the Uk and covers the Greater London area. As the official Trades Union Congress body for London GLATUC seeks to co-ordinat ...

.{{cite book , last1=Katz , first1=Philip , last2=Osmond , first2=Lydia , last3=Podmore , first3=Will , title=United for Progress , date=1985 , publisher=Greater London Association of Trades Councils , location=London

Leadership

Secretaries

:1952: John Raeburn (

Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers The Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (ASW) was a British trade union representing carpenters, joiners and allied trades. The ASW was formed in 1921 by the amalgamation of two smaller unions. It was itself merged into the Union of Constructio ...

)

Chairmen

:1952:

Bob Willis Robert George Dylan Willis (born Robert George Willis; 30 May 1949 – 4 December 2019) was an English cricketer, who represented England between 1971 and 1984. A right-handed fast bowler, Willis is regarded by many as one of the greatest fa ...

(

London Society of Compositors The London Society of Compositors was a British trade union, representing print workers in London. History The union was founded as the London Union of Compositors in 1834 by the merger of the London Trade Society of Compositors and the Londo ...

) :1959: Jock Halliday (

Bakers' Union The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union (BFAWU) is a trade union in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1847 in Manchester, it represents workers in the food industry. History The union dates its origin to 1847. The Manchester Friendly Association ...

) :1970:

Sidney Barton Sir Sidney Barton (26 November 1876 – 20 January 1946) was a British barrister and diplomat, serving as consul-general in Shanghai and as minister to Ethiopia. Early life Sidney Barton was born in Exeter, Devonshire, England on 26 November ...

(

National Union of Public Employees The National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) was a British trade union which existed between 1908 and 1993. It represented public sector workers in local government, the Health Service, universities, and water authorities. History The union w ...

)

Treasurers

:1952:

Cyril Plant Cyril Thomas Howe Plant, Baron Plant, CBE (27 August 1910 – 9 August 1986) was a British trade unionist. Born in Leek, Staffordshire, he worked as a sorting clerk in the Post Office and spent a lot of time playing football, later becoming a ...

(

Inland Revenue Staff Federation The Inland Revenue Staff Federation (IRSF) was a trade union in the United Kingdom. History The Union was born in the late 19th century, when a group of tax clerks met together to fight for higher pay, higher status and better conditions. At t ...

)

References

Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Trades councils Trade unions established in 1953 Trade unions disestablished in 1974