General Federation of Trade Unions (UK)

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**GFTU**

General Federation of Trade Unions
Founded	1899
Members	214,000
Country	United Kingdom
Key people	Mike Bradley, General Secretary Garry Oakes (Unity), President
Office location	London, England
Website	www.gftu.org.uk

The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) is a national trade union centre in the United Kingdom. It has 35 affiliates with a membership of just over 214,000 and describes itself as the "federation for specialist unions".

1 History
2 Current role
3 Affiliated Unions
- 3.1 Full members
- 3.2 Associate members
4 See also
5 External links
6 References

[edit] History

In the 1890's, the development of socialist organisations and socialist thinking also found expression in the British trade union movement. Many of the new unions formed during that period were committed to the socialist transformation of society and were critical of the conservatism of the craft unions. The debate revolved around concept of building “one-big-union” which would have the resources to embark on a militant course of action and even change society. This thinking gained strength after the 1897 Engineering Employers Federation lockout which resulted in a defeat for engineering workers.

The view that it was necessary to develop a strong, centralised trade union organisation by forming a federation, which had been rejected only two years earlier, was now endorsed at the Trade Union Congress of September 1897. This resulted in the establishment of the General Federation of Trade Unions at a special Congress of the TUC in 1899, the principal objective of which was to set up a national organisation with a strike fund which could be drawn upon by affiliated trade unions.

[edit] Current role

The GFTU now concentrates on servicing the needs of specialist unions. It does this by providing courses, undertaking research for its affiliated Unions and administering a Pension Scheme for officials and staff of affiliated Unions. In keeping with its original objectives, the Federation pays dispute benefit in appropriate cases to affiliated Unions.

The Governing Body is the Biennial General Council Meeting, attended by delegates from affiliated Unions, at which policy and rule changes are debated and an Executive Committee of 14 members elected to meet on a monthly basis between Biennial General Council Meetings.

The Federation undertakes its Parliamentary activities by working closely with John Mann MP, Member of Parliament Bassetlaw Constituency, particularly in respect of proposed legislation.

[edit] Affiliated Unions

[edit] Full members

Association for College Management
Association of Educational Psychologists
Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union
Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)
Card Setting Machine Tenters' Society
COMMUNITY (formerly ISTC & KFAT)
CONNECT
Community and Youth Workers' Union
Engineering and Fastener Trade Union
General Union of Loom Overlookers
Institute of Football Management Administration
League Managers Association
Musicians' Union
NACODS
National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO)
National Union of Journalists
Professional Cricketers Association
Professional Footballers Association
Professional Rugby Players Association
Retail Book, Stationery and Allied Trades Employees Association
Unity (formerly CATU)

[edit] Associate members

AMICUS Metal Mechanics Sector
AMICUS Scalemakers Craft Section
AMICUS UTW
GMB Clothing and Textile Section
GMB Construction, Furniture, Timber and Allied Section
GMB Scottish Lace and Textile Workers' Branch
PCS DCA AMO Group
TGWU Asphalt Workers Branch
TGWU Craft/Staff Branch
TGWU Jute and Flax Branches
TGWU National Association of Licensed House Managers – National Branch
TGWU National Lock and Metal Workers Branch
TGWU Northern Carpet Trades' Union
TGWU Yorkshire Association of Power Loom Overlookers' Branch
TGWU Lancashire Box, Packing Case and General
Woodworkers' Society Branch

[edit] See also

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Article Summary

The General Federation of Trade Unions is a national trade union centre in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1899 in response to the demand for a more centralised trade union structure that would enable a more militant approach to be taken to fighting the employer and even achieving the socialist transformation of society.

It was the product of the New Unionism of the 1890's which rejected the conservatism of the craft unions and was seen by the Trades Union Congress as a way of achieving a practical accommodation with the leaders of those affiliated unions who saw the trade union movement as an instrument for sweeping away capitalism by direct action.

The GFTU still operates a central Dispute Fund but has evolved into an organisation which provides centralised services, such as education and research, to its affiliates who are often smaller specialist unions or specialist sections of larger unions.

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