The Municipal Employees' 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 local government workers in the United Kingdom. The union was founded in 1888 as the London County Council Employees' Protection Association, to represent workers at the

London County Council London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today kno ...

, which was formally constituted the following year.James C. Docherty, ''Historical Dictionary of Organized Labor'', p.191 The union was initially led by William Anderson.Arthur Marsh, Victoria Ryan and John B. Smethurst, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.5 In 1899 it was renamed the National Association of County Authority Employees. It grew considerably after the collapse of the

National Municipal Labour Union National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

in 1900, and in 1901 it became the "Municipal Employees Association". In 1907, General Secretary

Albin Taylor Albin Taylor (1866–1936)''England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007'' was a British trade union leader. Early life Born in Castle Cary in Somerset, Taylor began working as a half-timer when he was eight years old. He left ho ...

was dismissed by the union's General Council. The following year, he set up a break-away

National Union of Corporation Workers 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 ...

. Nevertheless, by 1910, the Association had 13,500 members. Membership continued to grow under new general secretary

Peter J. Tevenan Peter Joseph Tevenan (20 June 1857 – 11 April 1943) was an Irish-British trade unionist and politician. Born in County Galway, Tevenan moved with his family to Liverpool when he was a young child. The family then settled in Chesterfield, Derby ...

, reaching a peak of 65,000 in 1921, with about one-fifth in London, and a further fifth in Scotland and Ireland. In 1924, the Association merged with the

National Union of General Workers The National Union of General Workers is the name of: * National Union of General Workers (Sohyo), a former trade union in Japan * National Union of General Workers (Zenrokyo) The National Union of General Workers (NUGW) is the shortened, Engl ...

and the

National Amalgamated Union of Labour The National Amalgamated Union of Labour (NAUL) was a general union in the United Kingdom. History The trade union was founded in Feb 1889 as the United Tyne and District Labourers Association and in March 1889 the Amalgamated Society of Shipyar ...

to form the

National Union of General and Municipal Workers The GMB is a general trade union in the United Kingdom which has more than 460,000 members. Its members work in nearly all industrial sectors, in retail, security, schools, distribution, the utilities, social care, the National Health Service (N ...

General Secretaries

:1894: William Anderson :1902:

:1907: Richard Davies :1913:

References

1888 establishments in England 1924 disestablishments in England Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom GMB (trade union) amalgamations Trade unions established in 1888 Trade unions disestablished in 1924 Trade unions based in London {{UK-trade-union-stub