The National Union of Domestic Appliances and General Operatives (NUDAGO) 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 metal workers in the United Kingdom, principally in the town of

Rotherham Rotherham () is a large minster and market town in South Yorkshire, England. The town takes its name from the River Rother which then merges with the River Don. The River Don then flows through the town centre. It is the main settlement of ...

. It primarily represented workers employed in manufacturing

whitegoods A major appliance, also known as a large domestic appliance or large electric appliance or simply a large appliance, large domestic, or large electric, is a non-portable or semi-portable machine used for routine housekeeping tasks such as cookin ...

, but also had some membership in foundries and light engineering.

History

The union was founded in 1890, following a successful strike in the light metal industry in Rotherham, led by the

Knights of Labor Knights of Labor (K of L), officially Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor, was an American labor federation active in the late 19th century, especially the 1880s. It operated in the United States as well in Canada, and had chapters also ...

.{{cite book, last1=Exton, first1=Jack, last2=Gill, first2=Colin, title=The Trade Union Directory, year=1981, publisher=Pluto Press, location=London, page=75 Initially named the National Union of Stove Grate Workers, it gradually recruited members in other parts of Yorkshire, Lancashire and the Midlands, and created a small branch in London. Over time, it expanded its remit, and was renamed the National Union of Stove Grate and General Metal Workers, then as the National Union of Domestic Appliance and General Metal Workers, before adopting its final name. Never a large union, by 1979 it had 5,500 members, declining to 2,250 in 1997.Peter Carter and John Smethurst, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.6'', p.307 In 2006, the union merged into

Community A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, tow ...

General secretaries

:1890s: William Knowles :1909:

Alex Hutchison Alexander Hutchison (1864 – 1928) was a Scottish trade union leader who served as chair of the General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU). Born in Falkirk, Hutchison began working at the age of eight, later becoming an iron moulder. An e ...

:1928: Adam Bennett :1953: Jack Higham :1979: Reg Preston :1989: Tony McCarthy

References

Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Metal trade unions 1890 establishments in the United Kingdom Trade unions established in 1890 Trade unions disestablished in 2006 Trade unions based in South Yorkshire