A vigilance committee is an unofficial grouping within 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 ...
, formed for the purpose of putting pressure on that union's leadership to pursue alternative policies or to pursue existing policies with increased vigour. Vigilance committees are usually formed when large numbers of union members disagree with the union's official policy, believe that they cannot trust the leadership to protect their interests properly, or that it is necessary for union members to scrutinise the actions of the leadership. 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 ...
, vigilance committees were widespread during the 1920s, appearing, for example, amongst
seamen,
dockers and
railwaymen. These vigilance committees were influenced by communist militants of the
National Minority Movement. Vigilance committees were also common in 1940s or 1950s, although by this stage most such bodies did not use the term vigilance committee, preferring alternate terms such as ''Reform Movement''.
Trade unions
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