The United Kingdom Society of Amalgamated Smiths and Strikers 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 ...

. The union's origins lay in the Sons of Vulcan Smiths and Strikers, a union representing workers in northern England and Derbyshire. This union gave its name to numerous pubs in the region.{{cite book , last1=Tuckett , first1=Angela , title=The Blacksmiths' History , date=1974 , publisher=Camelot Press , location=Southampton , isbn=0853153108 In 1886, the union was refounded as the "United Kingdom Society of Amalgamated Smiths and Strikers". It grew quickly, and became the main rival of the

Associated Blacksmiths', Forge and Smithy Workers' Society The Associated Blacksmiths, Forge and Smithy Workers' Society (ABFSWS) was a trade union representing metalworkers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. History The union was founded in 1857 in Glasgow as the Scottish United Operative Blacksmiths Pr ...

, particularly in railshops. In 1891, it was a founder of the

Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU), often known as the Confed is a trade union confederation in the United Kingdom. History The confederation was founded in December 1890 as the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuil ...

.Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.2, pp.63-64 By the following year, it had 2,200 members, and membership reached 4,347 in 1899, at which point it was the largest union in the industry. However growth stalled, and by 1910 membership had fallen to 2,731. During the 1910, the union undertook lengthy but unsuccessful negotiations about a possible merger with the Associated Blacksmiths. It grew rapidly during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and by 1920 had more than 14,000 members. That year, it merged with the

Amalgamated Society of Engineers The Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) was a major British trade union, representing factory workers and mechanics. History The history of the union can be traced back to the formation of the Journeymen Steam Engine, Machine Makers' and M ...

and other smaller unions to form the

Amalgamated Engineering Union The Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) was a major United Kingdom, British trade union. It merged with the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union to form the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union in 1992. History ...

References

Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Metal trade unions 1886 establishments in the United Kingdom Trade unions established in 1886 Trade unions disestablished in 1920 Trade unions based in County Durham