National Graphical Association

The National Graphical Association (NGA) was a trade union representing typographers and related workers in the United Kingdom.

National Graphical Association
Merged intoGraphical, Paper and Media Union
Founded1964
Dissolved1991
HeadquartersGraphic House, Bromham Road, Bedford[1]
Location
Members
136,300 (1982)
Key people
Robert Willis, Tony Dubbins
PublicationPrint[1]
AffiliationsTUC, P&KTF, Labour Party

History

The union was formed in 1964 by the merger of two long-term rival unions, the Typographical Association and the London Typographical Society. It was joined by a large number of small craft print unions including the National Society of Electrotypers and Stereotypers, National Union of Press Telegraphists, Association of Correctors of the Press, Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers. Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers and Engravers (SLADE) and National Union of Wallcoverings and Allied Trades. By 1982 it had a membership of 136,300.[2]

In 1978 the General Secretary Joe Wade asserted in a letter to the Sunday Times that "recruitment through secondary boycott has been a legitimate trade union tactic for many years."[3]

The NGA merged with the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades in 1991 to form the Graphical, Paper and Media Union.[2]

Election results

The union sponsored several Parliamentary candidates, many of whom won election.

ElectionConstituencyCandidateVotesPercentagePosition
1964 general electionBristol SouthWilliam Wilkins26,56963.51
1966 general electionBillericayEric Moonman40,01346.51
Bristol SouthWilliam Wilkins26,55267.11
1970 general electionBillericayEric Moonman43,76547.82
Feb 1974 general electionBasildonEric Moonman33,49945.21
Oct 1974 general electionBasildonEric Moonman32,29847.91
1979 general electionBasildonEric Moonman32,73940.52
1983 general electionColchester NorthRay Allen10,39718.43[4]
1987 general electionClackmannanMartin O'Neill20,31753.71

Leadership

General Secretaries

1964: Robert Willis and John Bonfield
1969: John Bonfield
1976: Joe Wade
1982: John Jackson and Joe Wade
1984: Tony Dubbins

General Presidents

1964: Fred Simmons
1974: Les Dixon
1982: Bryn Griffiths

References

  1. Eaton, Jack; Gill, Colin (1981). The Trade Union Directory. London: Pluto Press. pp. 160–164. ISBN 0861043502.
  2. Arthur Marsh, Victoria Ryan and John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions.
  3. Quoted in 'Report of an Inquiry into Certain Trade Union Recruitment Activities', Cmnd. 7706 (1979) (Leggatt Report), page 16.
  4. Gennard, John (1990). A History of the National Graphical Association. Unwin Hyman. ISBN 0044458118.
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