UNITE History
UNITE History by Mary Davis, published by Oxford University Press in 2021, is the first volume in a six-part series that explores the history of the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) from 1880 to 2010. This edition, comprising 176 pages, delves into the formation of the TGWU during a pivotal era marked by the rise of a mass trade union movement. The book emphasizes the union’s regional dynamics and key themes such as equality, internationalism, and the broader labour movement, particularly in the context of the conflict between capital and labour.
Readers will find a detailed examination of the TGWU’s early years, focusing on the period from 1880 to 1931. The narrative highlights the efforts led by Ernest Bevin to amalgamate various unions, culminating in the establishment of the TGWU between 1920 and 1922. This volume also addresses the significant events surrounding the General Strike of 1926 and the subsequent shift from trade union militancy to negotiated relations with employers, a transition known as ‘Mondism.’ Through this historical lens, the book provides insights into the political connections between the TGWU and the Labour Party during a transformative time in British labour history.
Official synopsis Publisher
Sold as a multi-volume set – the individual volumes are also available for purchase.
This is volume 1 of six accessible volumes covering UNITE’s history from 1880-2010. The history of the TGWU is the core of this collection, with a significant emphasis on the union’s regions, as well as several key themes, such as equality, internationalism, the wider labour movement, and its attitude to the conflict between capital and labour.
This first volume (1880-1931) covers the formation of the TGWU. It was rooted in an era in which, starting in the 1880’s, a mass trade union movement was formed. The drive to amalgamate the unions was spearheaded by Ernest Bevin and resulted in the creation of the TGWU, 1920-22 – a period which witnessed an intensification of pre and post WW1 militancy. Such militancy continued, albeit unevenly until 1926 and was met with resistance from employers and the State culminating in the mighty confrontation of the General Strike. Politically the union had a close relationship with the Labour Party and its two minority Governments (1923-4 and 1929-31). The defeat of 1926 marked a watershed in British labour history in which, again, the TGWU played a key role. Trade union militancy was succeeded by an attempt at negotiated accommodation with the employers, known as ‘Mondism’. Bevin was central to this development.
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