The Postmen's Federation 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 postal 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 European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. In 1889, a "Postmen's Union" was founded in Clerkenwell by Tom Dredge and

John Lincoln Mahon John Lincoln Mahon (8 June 1865 – 19 November 1933) was a Scottish trade unionist and politician, best known as a prominent socialist activist. Mahon was born in Edinburgh, to Irish parents, with the surname "McMahon". He followed in his fath ...

. This dissolved after many of its members were sacked, but two years later, C. Churchfield established the "Postmen's Federation" as a more cautious organisation. It immediately recruited 3,721 members, and survived, offering welfare benefits to members from 1895 and publishing ''The Postmen's Gazette''.Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.1, pp.175-176 By 1901, the union was becoming more confident, and felt able to affiliate to the

Trades Union Congress The Trades Union Congress (TUC) is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in England and Wales, representing the majority of trade unions. There are 48 affiliated unions, with a total of about 5.5 million members. Frances ...

and the Labour Representation Committee. Membership was over 31,000 by 1906. In 1912, George Harold Stuart was elected as general secretary; Duncan Campbell-Smith describes him as the "single most impressive officer among all the postal union staffs". Under his leadership, the union began admitting women. It negotiated a merger with the

Fawcett Association The Fawcett Association was a trade union representing postal clerks in London. History The union was founded in 1890. It was named after Henry Fawcett, who it considered had been sympathetic to workers when he was Postmaster General. For most o ...

and the

Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association The Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association (PTCA) was a trade union in the United Kingdom for workers in the post office and telecommunications industries. History The union was founded in 1881 as the Postal Telegraph Clerks' Association, am ...

in 1919, forming the

Union of Post Office Workers The Union of Communication Workers (UCW) was a trade union in the United Kingdom for workers in the post office and telecommunications industries. History The union was founded in 1919 as the Union of Post Office Workers (UPW) by the merger ...

.Duncan Campbell-Smith, ''Masters of the Post: The Authorized History of the Royal Mail''

General Secretaries

:1891: Charles Churchfield :1901: Alexander MacLaren :1910: T. Robinson :1912: George Harold Stuart

References

External links

Catalogue of the Postmen's Federation archives
held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick Trade unions established in 1891 Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Postal trade unions 1891 establishments in the United Kingdom Trade unions disestablished in 1919