Amalgamated Society of House Decorators and Painters
March 16, 2024
The Amalgamated Society of House Decorators and Painters (ASHDP) was a trade union representing painters and decorators in the London area of England. The union repeatedly tried to expand across the country, but was ultimately unsuccessful in doing so.
Amalgamated Society of House Decorators and Painters
The union was founded in 1866 as the London General Association of Amalgamated House Painters. It was formed by various local unions which were undertaking a strike for increased wages. They had previously worked together in the London Central House Painters' and Decorators' Trade Union, but that union had insufficient funds to support strikers.[1]
George Shipton had, for some years, been advocating for painters' unions to unite, and within a few days of the formation of the union, he was appointed as its second general secretary. Under his leadership, the union eclipsed the Central House Painters, although that union continued with a small membership until 1904. Despite being based in London, it briefly formed branches in Cardiff and Dundee. The Manchester Alliance of Operative House Painters was also recruiting members in London, under the name of the London Council of Painters. Shipton formed an alliance with the Manchester Alliance, the two working together as the "Amalgamated Society of House Decorators and Painters".[1]
The union charged high membership fees of 1 shilling per week, and also paid high benefits to members who found themselves out of work. However, it found that many of them, once re-employed, left the union. By 1868, it had only 420 members, and this fell further, with the union becoming largely moribund by 1871.[1]
In 1873, Shipton reorganised the union, under the Amalgamated Society of House Decorators and Painters name. On formation, it had 341 members in London, Southampton, Swansea and Waterford. Subscriptions and benefit payments were set at lower rates, and the union began a gradual growth, reaching 663 members in 1876, 1,067 in 1886, and 5,165 in 1900.[1]
The East London Painters' Trade Union represented ship painters, and it organised a strike in 1900 in an attempt to bar Amalgamated Society members from their trade. In retaliation, the Amalgamated reached an agreement with the shipyards to bar members of the East London union, which by the end of the year was defeated and forced to merge into the Amalgamated.[1]
^ abcdefghMarsh, Arthur; Ryan, Victoria (1987). Historical Directory of Trade Unions. Vol. 3. Aldershot: Gower Publishing. pp. 51–60. ISBN0566021625.
^Postgate, Raymond (1923). The Builders' History. London: National Federation of Building Trade Operatives. p. 462.
March 16, 2024
amalgamated, society, house, decorators, painters, ashdp, trade, union, representing, painters, decorators, london, area, england, union, repeatedly, tried, expand, across, country, ultimately, unsuccessful, doing, merged, intonational, amalgamated, society, o. The Amalgamated Society of House Decorators and Painters ASHDP was a trade union representing painters and decorators in the London area of England The union repeatedly tried to expand across the country but was ultimately unsuccessful in doing so Amalgamated Society of House Decorators and PaintersMerged intoNational Amalgamated Society of Operative House and Ship Painters and DecoratorsFounded1866Dissolved1904HeadquartersClub Union Buildings Clerkenwell Road LondonLocationEnglandMembers5 165 1900 Key peopleGeorge Shipton Gen Sec AffiliationsTUCHistory editThe union was founded in 1866 as the London General Association of Amalgamated House Painters It was formed by various local unions which were undertaking a strike for increased wages They had previously worked together in the London Central House Painters and Decorators Trade Union but that union had insufficient funds to support strikers 1 George Shipton had for some years been advocating for painters unions to unite and within a few days of the formation of the union he was appointed as its second general secretary Under his leadership the union eclipsed the Central House Painters although that union continued with a small membership until 1904 Despite being based in London it briefly formed branches in Cardiff and Dundee The Manchester Alliance of Operative House Painters was also recruiting members in London under the name of the London Council of Painters Shipton formed an alliance with the Manchester Alliance the two working together as the Amalgamated Society of House Decorators and Painters 1 The union charged high membership fees of 1 shilling per week and also paid high benefits to members who found themselves out of work However it found that many of them once re employed left the union By 1868 it had only 420 members and this fell further with the union becoming largely moribund by 1871 1 In 1873 Shipton reorganised the union under the Amalgamated Society of House Decorators and Painters name On formation it had 341 members in London Southampton Swansea and Waterford Subscriptions and benefit payments were set at lower rates and the union began a gradual growth reaching 663 members in 1876 1 067 in 1886 and 5 165 in 1900 1 The East London Painters Trade Union represented ship painters and it organised a strike in 1900 in an attempt to bar Amalgamated Society members from their trade In retaliation the Amalgamated reached an agreement with the shipyards to bar members of the East London union which by the end of the year was defeated and forced to merge into the Amalgamated 1 In 1904 the union merged into the National Amalgamated Society of Operative House and Ship Painters and Decorators 1 General Secretaries edit1866 E G Davies 1 1866 George Shipton 1 1889 Edwin Caleb Gibbs 2 References edit a b c d e f g h Marsh Arthur Ryan Victoria 1987 Historical Directory of Trade Unions Vol 3 Aldershot Gower Publishing pp 51 60 ISBN 0566021625 Postgate Raymond 1923 The Builders History London National Federation of Building Trade Operatives p 462 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amalgamated Society of House Decorators and Painters amp oldid 1140379467, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
