The National Association of Racing Staff (NARS) is 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 ...

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 ...

for stable staff working in the horse racing industry.

History

In 1975, many stable staff at Newmarket were members of the

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 ...

(TGWU). They went on strike for better working conditions, but the strike was met with hostility from trainers, jockeys and racegoers. It was settled but many strikers were not allowed to return to their jobs despite the settlement including a no victimisation clause. Some won cases at industrial tribunals. Disillusioned with the TGWU, many broke away to form the Stable Lads Association, the idea for which was Viv Baldwin's who enlisted

John Oaksey John Geoffrey Tristram Lawrence, 4th Baron Trevethin and 2nd Baron Oaksey (21 March 1929 – 5 September 2012) was a British aristocrat, horse racing journalist, television commentator and former amateur jockey. He was twice British Champion ...

and

Jimmy Hill James William Thomas Hill, OBE (22 July 1928 – 19 December 2015) was an English footballer and later a television personality. His career included almost every role in the sport, including player, trade union leader, coach, manager, director ...

to help set it up. Tommy Delaney, a former jockey, became its first secretary.Howard Wright, "TUC recognises stable staff representatives", '' Racing Post'', 6 March 2009
Viv Baldwin
remained involved with the association until 2010. By 2007, membership stood at 1,250. The organisation then renamed itself as the National Association of Stable Staff, and within three years increased membership to 2,000. In 2009, the union affiliated with 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 ...

. In August 2017, the union renamed itself as the National Association of Racing Staff.

Structure

It was based at

Bretby Bretby is a village and civil parish in the south of Derbyshire, England, north of Swadlincote and east of Burton upon Trent, on the border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The population of the civil parish as of the 2011 census was 893. ...

Business Park, north of Swadlincote on the A511, in

South Derbyshire South Derbyshire is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. The population of the local authority at the 2011 Census was 94,611. It contains a third of the National Forest, and the council offices are in Swadlincote. The district ...

. It is now based in Suffolk.

References

External links

Official website
1975 establishments in England Horse racing organisations in Great Britain Organisations based in Derbyshire Organisations based in Suffolk South Derbyshire District Trade unions established in 1975 Trade unions in the United Kingdom Trade unions based in Suffolk Trade unions affiliated with the Trades Union Congress {{UK-trade-union-stub