Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress

The Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress was the leading body of the British trade union movement from 1871 until 1921.

History

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) was established in 1868 and formed a committee to act on its decisions and direct activities between conferences. Initially, this was an informal body, and the leading role in the movement was taken by the unelected "Junta", with limited backing from their Conference of Amalgamated Trades. In 1871, they decided to dissolve their organisation and throw their support behind the TUC.[1]

Now occupying the leading position in the British trade union movement, the TUC decided to formalise its activities. Its committee was re-established as the "Parliamentary Committee", indicating that, at that time, the TUC was focused on lobbying the Parliament of the United Kingdom to enact new legislation favourable to workers, and to ensure that current legislation was enforced.[2]

Trade union membership grew rapidly during the life of the committee, and it was enlarged on several occasions, settling for a time at 12 members, then reaching a maximum of 16.[2] After a rail strike in 1919 was resolved by mediation, Ernest Bevin proposed that the TUC should take on a mediation role throughout the movement. A committee investigated the proposal, and concurred, but argued that the Parliamentary Committee could not take on the work, as it was under-resourced and insufficiently representative. In 1921, it was replaced by the General Council of the TUC, an enlarged body which employed full-time members of staff.[3]

Members

A full list of members is available in the Trades Union Congress's Report of the 1921 Annual Trades Union Congress. Additional details are from W. J. Davis, History of the British Trades Union Congress.

1868 to 1871

There were six members of the informal committee which existed until 1871:

Year	Secretary/ Chairman	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member
1868	W. H. Wood Manchester TC	C. D. Dewhurst Bradford TC	William Dronfield Sheffield TC	George Potter London TC	Peter Shorrocks Manchester TC	Thomas J. Wilkinson Birmingham TC
1869	George Potter London TC	Alfred Bailey Tailors		Edwin Coulson Bricklayers	George Howell Bricklayers	John Kane Ironworkers
1870	George Potter London TC	Alfred Bailey Tailors		Edwin Coulson Bricklayers		John Kane Ironworkers

In 1871, an exploratory Parliamentary Committee was created with five members.

Year	Secretary	Chairman	Member	Member	Member
1871	George Howell Bricklayers	George Potter London TC	Lloyd Jones Manchester Fustian	Joseph Leicester Flint Glass Makers	Alexander Macdonald Miners

1872 to 1906

The Parliamentary Committee was firmly established at the 1872 Congress, with nine members, although William Allan was given an additional place for the first year.

Year	Secretary	Chairman	Treasurer	Year	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member
1872	George Howell Bricklayers	Alexander Macdonald Miners	William Allan Engineers	1872	Thomas Halliday Amalg. Miners	William Hicking Nottingham TC	David Higham Typographical	John Kane Ironworkers	William Leigh Spinners	William H. Leatherland Nottingham TC	George Thomas London Shoemakers	10 members in 1872/3
1873		Alexander Macdonald Miners	William Allan Engineers	1873	Daniel Guile Iron Founders	William Owen Turners	George Odger London TC	John Kane Ironworkers	Thomas Plackett Leeds TC	Peter Shorrocks Tailors	9 members in 1873/4
1874		Alfred Bailey Tailors	Daniel Guile Iron Founders	1874	William Allan Engineers	Joseph Arch Agricultural		Andrew Boa Glasgow TC	Henry Broadhurst Stonemasons	Alexander Macdonald Miners	Thomas Mottershead Preston TC	William Rolley Sheffield TC	11 members 1874 – 1894
1875		Robert Knight Boilermakers	Daniel Guile Iron Founders	1875	Thomas Birtwistle NE Lancs Weavers	Thomas Halliday Miners		John Kane Ironworkers	Henry Broadhurst Stonemasons	John D. Prior Amalg. Carpenters	George Shipton London Painters
1875	Henry Broadhurst Stonemasons	John Kane Ironworkers	George Shipton London Painters	1875	Alfred Bailey Tailors			John Battersby Scottish Typographical	Robert Knight Boilermakers	John D. Prior Amalg. Carpenters	Henry Taylor Agricultural
1876		John D. Prior Amalg. Carpenters		1876				John Battersby Scottish Typographical		Joseph Arch Agricultural	John Burnett Engineers
1877				1877		George M. Ball Agricultural	Thomas Birtwistle NE Lancs Weavers	John Inglis Blacksmiths		Henry Slatter Typographical		Thomas Smith Boot & Shoe
1878				1878	William Crawford Durham Miners					Henry Slatter Typographical		James Fitzpatrick Liverpool TC
1879		Henry Slatter Typographical	John Burnett Engineers	1879	William Crawford Durham Miners					Alfred Bailey Tailors	John D. Prior Amalg. Carpenters	George Shipton London Painters
1880		William Crawford Durham Miners		1880	Henry Slatter Typographical						John D. Prior Amalg. Carpenters
1881		Thomas Birtwistle NE Lancs Weavers		1881	William Crawford Durham Miners	W. J. Davis Brassworkers	William Paterson Scottish Carpenters				Henry Slatter Typographical
1882		John Inglis Blacksmiths		1882		W. J. Davis Brassworkers	William Paterson Scottish Carpenters	Thomas Birtwistle NE Lancs Weavers				James Mawdsley Spinners
1883		Alfred Bailey Tailors		1883		John Inglis Blacksmiths	G. D. Kelley Printers		W. H. Leatherland Nottingham TC	James S. Murchie Amalg. Carpenters		George Shipton London Painters
1884		James S. Murchie Amalg. Carpenters		1884			Alfred Bailey Tailors		J. M. Jack Iron Moulders	James Mawdsley Spinners		George Sedgwick Boot & Shoe
1885	George Shipton London Painters	James Mawdsley Spinners		1885					J. M. Jack Iron Moulders	James S. Murchie Amalg. Carpenters		George Sedgwick Boot & Shoe
1886	Henry Broadhurst Stonemasons	J. M. Jack Iron Moulders	Henry Slatter Typographical	1886		James Mawdsley Spinners			George Shipton London Painters	James S. Murchie Amalg. Carpenters	James Swift Steam Engine Makers	Stuart Uttley Sheffield TC
1887		William Crawford Durham Miners		1887	Edward Harford Railway Servants		John Inglis Blacksmiths		George Shipton London Painters	William Inskip Boot & Shoe	J. M. Jack Iron Moulders	G. D. Kelley Printers
1888		George Shipton London Painters		1888					William Crawford Durham Miners		J. M. Jack Iron Moulders	James S. Murchie Amalg. Carpenters
1889		James Swift Steam Engine Makers		1889					William Crawford Durham Miners		George Shipton London Painters	Havelock Wilson Sailors
1890	Charles Fenwick Northumberland Miners	Edward Harford Railway Servants	William Inskip Boot & Shoe	1890	John Burns Engineers		J. M. Jack Iron Moulders	G. D. Kelley Printers	William Matkin General Carpenters	Benjamin Pickard Miners	Stuart Uttley Sheffield TC
1891		John Wilson Durham Miners		1891	Thomas Birtwistle Weavers	Edward Harford Railway Servants	John Inglis Blacksmiths	G. D. Kelley Printers	William Matkin General Carpenters	James Mawdsley Spinners	T. R. Threlfall Typographical
1892		Havelock Wilson Sailors		1892	John Anderson Engineers	Edward Harford Railway Servants	John Hodge Steel Smelters	David Holmes Weavers	J. M. Jack Iron Moulders		Ben Tillett General Labourers	John Wilson Durham Miners
1893		John Burns Engineers		1893	Henry Broadhurst Stonemasons	Edward Cowey Miners	John Hodge Steel Smelters	David Holmes Weavers				Havelock Wilson Sailors
1894	Sam Woods Miners	David Holmes Weavers		1894	Henry Broadhurst Stonemasons	Edward Cowey Miners	John Burns Engineers	Edward Harford Railway Servants					Richard Sheldon Belfast TC	Will Thorne Gasworkers
1895		Edward Cowey Miners		1895	Francis Chandler Amalg. Carpenters	George Ferguson Engineers	John Hodge Steel Smelters				David Holmes Weavers		Alexander Wilkie Shipwrights	Will Thorne Gasworkers
1896		Will Thorne Gasworkers		1896		Edward Cowey Miners	W. J. Davis Brassworkers						Alexander Wilkie Shipwrights	Robert Knight Boilermakers
1897		Alexander Wilkie Shipwrights		1897			W. J. Davis Brassworkers		C. W. Bowerman London Compositors	William Mullin Cardroom			Will Thorne Gasworkers
1898		W. J. Davis Brassworkers		1898			Walter Hudson Railway Servants	Alexander Wilkie Shipwrights	C. W. Bowerman London Compositors
1899		Francis Chandler Amalg. Carpenters	C. W. Bowerman London Compositors	1899	W. J. Davis Brassworkers		W. Boyd Hornidge Boot & Shoe		W. C. Steadman Thames Barge Builders
1900		C. W. Bowerman London Compositors	W. J. Davis Brassworkers	1900	Charles Hobson Kindred Trades				W. C. Steadman Thames Barge Builders			James Sexton Dock Labourers
1901		W. C. Steadman Thames Barge Builders	W. J. Davis Brassworkers	1901	Charles Hobson Kindred Trades				C. W. Bowerman Compositors		Francis Chandler Amalg. Carpenters			D. C. Cummings Boilermakers
1902		W. Boyd Hornidge Boot & Shoe	W. C. Steadman Thames Barge Builders	1902	Richard Bell Railway Servants		David Holmes Weavers
1903		Richard Bell Railway Servants	W. C. Steadman Thames Barge Builders	1903	W. J. Davis Brassworkers		David Holmes Weavers	A. H. Gill Cotton Spinners		W. Boyd Hornidge Boot & Shoe
1904		James Sexton Dock Labourers	W. J. Davis Brassworkers	1904	Richard Bell Railway Servants	James Haslam Miners	David Shackleton Weavers				W. C. Steadman Thames Barge Builders	Alexander Wilkie Shipwrights
1905	W. C. Steadman Thames Barge Builders	D. C. Cummings Boilermakers		1905							Francis Chandler Amalg. Carpenters			James Sexton Dock Labourers
1906	W. C. Steadman Thames Barge Builders	A. H. Gill Cotton Spinners		1906				George Barnes Engineers			Francis Chandler Amalg. Carpenters			D. C. Cummings Boilermakers

1907 to 1916

The committee was restructured at the 1907 Congress, sixteen members being elected. Eleven were elected from trade groups, and five from a "miscellaneous trades" group.[4] Additionally, the secretary was elected separately. Davis continued to serve as treasurer for three more years before the post was abolished. Since 1900, the chairman had gone on to become president at the annual congress, and this practice was continued.

After only one year, the Engineers group was abolished, its seat given to the Miscellaneous Trades group, and most of the other groups were renumbered.

The groups were as follows:

Group (1907)	Group (1908 – 1916)	Trades
1	1	Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders
2	2	Building Trades
3	3	Cotton Operatives
4	4	Dock Labourers, Stevedores, Cranemen, Enginemen, etc.
5	Abolished	Engineers
6	5	Gasworkers and General Labourers
7	6	Metal Workers
8	7	Miners
9	8	Printing and Paper Trades
10	9	Railway Servants
11	10	Weavers
12	11	Miscellaneous Trades

The members in this period were:

Year	Secretary	Boilermakers	Building	Cotton	Dock	Engineers	Gasworkers	Metal	Miners	Printing	Railway	Weavers	Miscellaneous	Miscellaneous	Miscellaneous	Miscellaneous	Miscellaneous	Miscellaneous
1907	W. C. Steadman Thames Barge Builders	D. C. Cummings Boilermakers	Francis Chandler Amalg. Carpenters	A. H. Gill Spinners	James Sexton Dock Labourers	George Barnes Engineers	Will Thorne Gasworkers	W. J. Davis Brassworkers	James Haslam Miners	C. W. Bowerman Compositors	Richard Bell Railway Servants	David Shackleton Weavers	Ben Cooper Cigar Makers	W. Boyd Hornidge Boot & Shoe	William Mosses Patternmakers	Joe Williams Musicians	Alexander Wilkie Shipwrights	Seat added 1908
1908		D. C. Cummings Boilermakers		William Mullin Cardroom	Thomas Watson Enginemen	Group abolished							Matthew Arrandale Machine Workers	Harry Gosling Watermen		Joe Williams Musicians	Alexander Wilkie Shipwrights	J. A. Seddon Shop Assistants
1909		John Hill Boilermakers			James Sexton Dock Labourers											Herbert Emery Bakers	J. H. Jenkins Shipwrights
1910											J. E. Williams Railwaymen
1911	C. W. Bowerman London Compositors		William Matkin General Carpenters							Alfred Evans Printers' Warehousemen		J. W. Ogden Weavers
1912															George Edwards Agricultural	Joe Williams Musicians
1913				A. H. Gill Spinners					Herbert Smith Miners				William Mosses Patternmakers		Alfred Smith Vehicle Workers
1914				A. H. Gill Spinners									William Mosses Patternmakers
1915			Francis Chandler Amalg. Carpenters	William Mullin Cardroom									Herbert Skinner Typographical

1916 to 1921

From 1916, the trade groups were no longer used for elections. The council was enlarged to seventeen members plus the secretary. In 1919, it was cut back again to sixteen members.

Year	Secretary	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member	Member
1916	C. W. Bowerman London Compositors	Fred Bramley Furnishing	W. J. Davis Brassworkers	T. A. Flynn Tailors	Harry Gosling Watermen	John Hill Boilermakers	J. H. Jenkins Shipwrights	Edward Judson Spinners	William Mosses Patternmakers	J. W. Ogden Weavers	Alfred Onions Miners	Edward L. Poulton Boot & Shoe	James Sexton Dock Labourers	Robert Smillie Miners	G. H. Stuart-Bunning Postmen	J. H. Thomas Railwaymen	Will Thorne Gasworkers	R. B. Walker Agricultural
1917		Fred Bramley Furnishing		Frederick Hall Miners			J. H. Jenkins Shipwrights	Edward Judson Spinners	Herbert Skinner Typographical					Joe Williams Musicians
1918		Margaret Bondfield General Workers		Thomas Greenall Miners			Robert Shirkie Enginemen	Havelock Wilson Sailors
1919				Henry Boothman Spinners			A. A. Purcell Furnishing	Alonzo Swales Engineers			Reduced to 16 members from 1919
1920			John Beard Workers Union	Henry Boothman Spinners			A. A. Purcell Furnishing	Alonzo Swales Engineers	Arthur Pugh Iron & Steel		Reduced to 16 members from 1919			Robert Smillie Miners	Alfred Smith Vehicle Workers

References

G. D. H. Cole, A Short History of the British Working Class Movement: 1848-1900, pp.104-105
University of Warwick, "The Trades Union Congress, 1936-1939: Its history and organisation"
Gerald A. Dorfman, British Trade Unionism Against the Trades Union Congress, p.6
Annual Report of the 1907 Trades Union Congress, pp.194-195

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[1] G. D. H. Cole, A Short History of the British Working Class Movement: 1848-1900, pp.104-105

[history-2] University of Warwick, "The Trades Union Congress, 1936-1939: Its history and organisation"

[3] Gerald A. Dorfman, British Trade Unionism Against the Trades Union Congress, p.6

[4] Annual Report of the 1907 Trades Union Congress, pp.194-195

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