The union was founded in 1919 as the Retail Book, Stationery and Allied Trades Employees' Association. Its membership has always been around 2,000, and the majority of its members always worked for W. H. Smith, although at times it has included members from other newsagents and bookshops. Based in London for many years, it moved to Swindon when WHSmith's head office relocated there. From the 1980s it has undertaken activity under the name of the "Retail Book Association",[2] although the original title remains its officially registered name.[1]
In its early days, the union was led by a general secretary, the post held successively by V. H. Pain, R. V. Motts and A. J. Johnson.[2]
The union was affiliated to the Trades Union Congress for a period in the 1960s, but withdrew and instead linked with other unions through the General Federation of Trade Unions.[2] It is no longer a member of either organisation. It has never had a political fund, but is entirely independent of WHSmith, representing members with grievances or who are subject to disciplinary action. It employs a full-time president and other members of staff.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abTrade Union Certification Officer, "Annual Return for a Trade Union: Retail Book, Stationery and Allied Trades Employees' Association" (2015)
^ abcArthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.5, p.135
retail, book, association, trade, union, united, kingdom, representing, workers, whsmith, retail, book, stationery, allied, trades, employees, associationfounded1919locationunited, kingdommembers2, 2015, peopledavid, pickles, president, websiterbaunion, union,. The Retail Book Association is a trade union in the United Kingdom representing workers at WHSmith Retail Book AssociationRetail Book Stationery and Allied Trades Employees AssociationFounded1919LocationUnited KingdomMembers2 024 2015 1 Key peopleDavid Pickles President Websiterbaunion wbr org The union was founded in 1919 as the Retail Book Stationery and Allied Trades Employees Association Its membership has always been around 2 000 and the majority of its members always worked for W H Smith although at times it has included members from other newsagents and bookshops Based in London for many years it moved to Swindon when WHSmith s head office relocated there From the 1980s it has undertaken activity under the name of the Retail Book Association 2 although the original title remains its officially registered name 1 In its early days the union was led by a general secretary the post held successively by V H Pain R V Motts and A J Johnson 2 The union was affiliated to the Trades Union Congress for a period in the 1960s but withdrew and instead linked with other unions through the General Federation of Trade Unions 2 It is no longer a member of either organisation It has never had a political fund but is entirely independent of WHSmith representing members with grievances or who are subject to disciplinary action It employs a full time president and other members of staff 3 References edit a b Trade Union Certification Officer Annual Return for a Trade Union Retail Book Stationery and Allied Trades Employees Association 2015 a b c Arthur Marsh and John B Smethurst Historical Directory of Trade Unions vol 5 p 135 Retail Book Association RBA External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Retail Book Association amp oldid 1136637762, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
