The Irish Distributive and Administrative Union (IDATU) 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 workers in

Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...

. The union was founded in 1901 as the Irish Drapers' Assistants' Association by

Michael O'Lehane Michael O'Lehane (1873–1920) was an Irish trade unionist. Biography Born near Macroom in County Cork, O'Lehane studied at the North Monastery before completing an apprenticeship as a draper. He moved to Limerick in 1898 to work for Cannocks, ...

. O'Lehane had been working at Cannocks in

Limerick Limerick ( ; ) is a city in western Ireland, in County Limerick. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and is in the Mid-West Region, Ireland, Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. W ...

where several female shop workers living on the premises died in a major fire. O'Lehane relocated to Dublin, where he founded the union.Dermot Keogh, "Michael O'Lehane and the organisation of Linen Drapers Assistants", ''Saothar'', vol.3, pp.33-43 In 1902, O'Lehane travelled around Ireland, recruiting members for the IDAA, with a branch being set up in

Galway Galway ( ; , ) is a City status in Ireland, city in (and the county town of) County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. It is the most populous settlement in the province of Connacht, the List of settleme ...

and over the next few years in other towns and cities. The union focused its campaigns on reducing working hours, creating a half-day holiday per week, and setting up agreements to cover overtime pay.Michael O'Lehane
, ''Irish Labour History Society'' The IDAA attracted particular attention for recruiting women. By 1914, 1,400 of its 4,000 members were women. O'Lehane stood down as secretary in 1919, being succeeded by several high-profile trade unionists, including Luke Duffy, Michael Drumgoole and Billy Fitzpatrick. The union changed its name to the Irish Union of Distributive Workers and Clerks (IUDWC), and in 1935 it merged with the Commercial Employees' Union. Membership varied greatly over the years, falling as low as 6,443 in 1930, but reaching 15,579 in 1950, and more than 17,122 in 1970. In 1985, the union took its final name, the "Irish Distributive and Administrative Union".Arthur Marsh, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.5, pp.119-120 The union experienced rapid growth in the 1980s under the stewardship of General Secretary John Mitchell, who was seen as a left-winger. In 1984 a number of female workers and one man at

Dunnes Stores Dunnes Stores is an Irish multinational retail chain that primarily sells food, clothes and household wares. It was founded by Ben Dunne (businessman, born 1908), Ben Dunne in 1944. In addition to its main customer base in Ireland, the chain al ...

department store in Henry Street,

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

refused to sell

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

n grapefruits as part of the growing campaign against the Apartheid regime then in power. Mitchell gave full support to the workers and a long strike / lockout ensued. The action made international headlines and at one stage a delegation of eight of the Dunnes Workers led by IDATU Official Brendan Archbold were expelled from South Africa where they had gone to meet

Archbishop Desmond Tutu Desmond Mpilo Tutu (7 October 193126 December 2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop o ...

. Mitchell was ousted from his position in 1988, leading to a major controversy and claims of unfair dismissal from himself and leading supporters. He was also heavily criticised for expanding the union into Northern Ireland where a row took place with the rival GMB union. Mitchell took legal action to secure reinstatement but eventually the union made a settlement with him, but he was not reinstated.{{Cite web , url=http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2001/10/28/story307423828.asp , title=Rebels for the cause: ThePost.ie , access-date=2016-07-18 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050512122713/http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2001/10/28/story307423828.asp , archive-date=2005-05-12 , url-status=dead In 1994, IDATU merged with the

Irish National Union of Vintners', Grocers' and Allied Trades Assistants The Irish National Union of Vintners', Grocers' and Allied Trades Assistants (INUVGATA), also known as the Barmen's Union, was a trade union representing retail and bar staff, principally in Ireland. The union originated in 1863 in Dublin as the Gr ...

to form

Mandate Mandate most often refers to: * League of Nations mandates, quasi-colonial territories established under Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, 28 June 1919 * Mandate (politics), the power granted by an electorate Mandate may also r ...

General Secretaries

:1901:

:1920: John G. Gilloway :1922: Luke Duffy :1933: Michael Drumgoole :1954: Billy Fitzpatrick :1983: John Mitchell :1989: Hugh Pollock :1992: Owen Nulty

References

Defunct trade unions of Ireland Retail trade unions 1901 establishments in Ireland Trade unions established in 1901 Trade unions disestablished in 1994 1994 disestablishments in Ireland