The United Vehicle Workers 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 drivers 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 was founded in 1919 when the

London and Provincial Union of Licensed Vehicle Workers The London and Provincial Union of Licensed Vehicle Workers (LPU) was a trade union representing taxi drivers in and around London. It was regarded as one of the most militant unions in the country. History In 1890, the Metropolitan Cab Drivers' ...

merged with the

Amalgamated Association of Tramway and Vehicle Workers The Amalgamated Association of Tramway and Vehicle Workers (T&VW) was a trade union representing workers on public transport in the United Kingdom. In 1889, the Manchester and Salford Tramway Company began offering a reward to members of the publ ...

. These were known as the "red" and "blue" unions, based on the colour of the unions' respective badges, and the supposed political inclinations of their members. It represented drivers of a wide range of vehicles, from buses and trams to cabs and horse-drawn carts. It also recruited related workers, such as conductors, cleaners and

farrier A farrier is a specialist in equine hoof care, including the trimming and balancing of horses' hooves and the placing of shoes on their hooves, if necessary. A farrier combines some blacksmith's skills (fabricating, adapting, and adjus ...

s. By 1921, the union had 115,897 members.Arthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.5, pp.244-245 Within the union, members of its predecessors were reluctant to merge their branches, with the tram and bus drivers coming into particular conflict. Two branches of the union, dominated by bus drivers, broke away in 1921 to form the Trams, Omnibus and Tube Workers union, but

Ernest Bevin Ernest Bevin (9 March 1881 – 14 April 1951) was a British statesman, trade union leader, and Labour Party politician. He co-founded and served as General Secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers' Union in the years 1922–19 ...

persuaded them to rejoin later in the year, shortly before the entire union became part of the new

Transport and General Workers' Union The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU or T&G) was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland – where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union (ATGWU) to differentiate its ...

General Secretaries

:1919: Stanley Hirst

References

{{Transport and General Workers' Union Trade unions established in 1919 Trade unions disestablished in 1922 Transport and General Workers' Union amalgamations Trade unions based in London