The Hull Seamen's Union was a

trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

representing sailors based in

Kingston-upon-Hull Kingston upon Hull, usually shortened to Hull, is a historic maritime city and unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies upon the River Hull at its confluence with the Humber Est ...

, in England. The union was founded in 1883 as the Hull Sailors' Mutual Association, and in 1887 it renamed itself as the Hull Seamen's and Marine Firemen's Association. In 1913, it changed its name to the "Hull Seamen's Union". The union represented the majority of organised sailors in Hull, and the largest of the local seamen's unions in the United Kingdom. It was led by James Benjamin Butcher, who focused on maintaining good relations with shipowners, and was described by rival John R. Bell as "out of date and out of sympathy with all progressive movements". In 1922, the union merged into the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union.{{cite web , title=Hull Seamen's Union , url=https://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/HSU , website=Modern Records Centre , publisher=University of Warwick , accessdate=14 November 2020

General Secretaries

:1880s: James Benjamin Butcher :c.1913: George William McKee

References

Seafarers' trade unions Trade unions established in 1883 Trade unions disestablished in 1922 Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Trade unions based in the East Riding of Yorkshire