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Scottish Trades Union Congress

April 12, 2024

"Scottish union" redirects here. Not to be confused with Unionism in Scotland.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) is the national trade union centre in Scotland. With 40 affiliated unions as of 2020, the STUC represents over 540,000 trade unionists.

STUC
Scottish Trades Union Congress
Mòr-dhàil Aonaidhean-ciùird na h-Alba
Founded25–27 March 1897
HeadquartersGlasgow, Scotland
Location
Members
560,000
Key people
Rozanne Foyer, General Secretary
Mary Senior, President
Websitewww.stuc.org.uk

The STUC is a separate organisation from the English and Welsh Trades Union Congress (TUC), having been established in 1897 as a result of a political dispute with the TUC regarding political representation for the Labour movement.[1]

The current General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress is Rozanne Foyer.

Administrative history edit

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) is a completely independent and autonomous trade union centre for Scotland. It is not a Scottish regional organisation of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). It was established in 1897 largely as a result of a political dispute with the TUC regarding political representation for the Labour movement.[2] A number of meetings were held by the various Scottish trades councils to discuss the situation, resulting in the formation of the STUC in Glasgow, Scotland, in March 1897. From the outset, the STUC was not in competition with the TUC, nor was it a political movement, but sought to ensure that "in any scheme for the government of Scotland provision should be made for the same industrial legislation being applied throughout Great Britain." Close contact was retained with the TUC with reciprocal arrangements existing for mutual assistance and co-operation when the occasion warranted.

The STUC originally had a rented office at 58 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland, in a building belonging to the Scottish Council for Women's Trades. Between 1900 and 1949 the STUC had offices in various locations in Glasgow city centre and the Govanhill area of Glasgow before moving to Woodlands Terrace in the west end of the city in 1949. In 1998, the offices moved to Woodlands Road.

The Annual Congress is the Governing Body of the STUC. From the earliest days, the Congress concerned itself with a wide range of economic and social questions, lobbying British Members of Parliament, and from 1999 the Scottish Parliament and executive, on major issues. Hours and conditions of work and the battles around these issues were always a central preoccupation of the Congress, but it also concerned itself with wider issues such as international affairs, housing, education, transport, peace, racism, and social and economic issues, as well as promoting and supporting joint trades union councils (later renamed trade union councils).

The struggle for independent working class political representation was one of the concerns on which the Congress was founded and in 1900, the Congress was instrumental in establishing the Scottish Workers' Parliamentary Election Committee, a forerunner of the Scottish Council of the Labour Party, which would nominate and support candidates for Parliamentary elections. The Congress was also involved with the Scottish Workers' Representation Committee which continued to function until 1909 when its duties were taken over by the national Labour Party. A Scottish Council of the Labour Party was formed in 1915. Despite this involvement in the process which established the Labour Party, the STUC is not, and has never been, affiliated to any political party.

The STUC has always had active women members. In 1897 a female delegate, Margaret Irwin, obtained the highest vote in the election of the first Parliamentary Committee (later renamed the General Council), the governing body of the Congress. She was nominated for chairman but declined nomination on the grounds that to appoint a woman chairman at that time was too premature. However, she acted as the Parliamentary Secretary and was also Secretary of the Scottish Council for Women's Trade. The first female President, Bell Jobson, presided at the 1937 Congress. In 1926, the Organisation of Women Committee (later the Women's Advisory Committee, now the Women’s Committee) was established by the Congress, specialising in issues relating particularly to women.

In 1937 the Congress agreed a motion to establish youth fellowships as a way of attracting young people to join the unions, and therefore encourage union membership regardless of sex or age. It was realised that to create separate youth fellowships was restrictive, suggesting that the old and young should work separately. Therefore, in 1938, it was decided to establish the Trade Union Youth Advisory Committee (now called the Youth Committee) encouraging youth sections within the existing unions. The Committee is elected by an annual conference of young trade unionists that deals with youth related issues, and elects a delegation to the Annual Congress which submits three motions and amendments like other affiliates. It also organises day and weekend schools and other activities for young trade unionists.

From the 1930s onwards, probably the most important concern of the Congress has been the Scottish economy. The STUC has played its part in the legend of Red Clydeside 1910-1922; the period of militancy and protest by the working people of Glasgow and elsewhere. It has played a role in many historic struggles of the Scottish people including the General Strike of 1926, the post-war reconstruction of Scottish industry, and more recent events like the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in of 1971–1972, the 1984–1985 miners strike and the defeat of the poll tax in the early 1990s. The Congress was instrumental in bringing the motor industry to Bathgate and Linwood, Scotland, in the 1960s the STUC played a central role for many decades in the campaign which established the Scottish Parliament.

By 1947 the STUC consisted of 83 affiliated trades unions with a membership of 671,630. In addition, 51 trades councils were affiliated. Membership was made up of members of the Scottish unions and Scottish members of unions covering the British Isles. The period 1977 to 1980 saw membership of the STUC peak to over one million with 80 affiliated unions and 45 trades union councils. A gradual decline of membership then occurred to a total of 634,797 in 2001 with 46 affiliated unions and 33 trades union councils. In 2013, the STUC represented over 630,000 trade unionists, the members of 37 affiliated trade unions and 20 Trades Union Councils.[3]

The focal point of the STUC is its Annual Congress held in April and attended by delegates from affiliated organisations. It is the Annual Congress which sets down the policy of the STUC and which elects the General Council (known as the Parliamentary Committee until 1923). Between Congresses, it is the General Council which implements policy. The affiliates are divided into seven sections: transport, mining and distribution; steel, engineering and electrical; manufacturing; municipal, general and building; financial, scientific and technical services; civil and public services; education and cultural services; and trades union councils. Each of these sections is represented on the General Council (with a number of places in each section reserved for representatives of women workers), approximately on the basis of its proportion of the total STUC membership. There are also two places on the General Council for representatives of black workers, and two places for representatives of young (under the age of 26) workers. Whilst the General Council is elected by the whole of Congress, candidates are restricted to standing for election to the section to which their organisation belongs.

In 2020, the STUC moved to temporary accommodation in Rutherglen before its planned move to a new build premises in Landressy Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow in early 2021.

STUC affiliate unions edit

The following unions were affiliated to the STUC as of July 2020:[4]

Projects edit

  • Scottish Union Learning [5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ http://www.learningservices.gcal.ac.uk/archives/stuc/index.html [dead link]
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 11 February 2011.
  3. ^ "About the STUC - STUC".
  4. ^ Scottish Trades Union Congress, "Affiliated unions"
  5. ^ "Scottish Union Learning". Scottish Union Learning.

Bibliography edit

  • The Bairns o' Adam - The Story of the STUC, by Keith Aitken, 1997

External links edit

  • Official website

April 12, 2024
scottish, trades, union, congress, scottish, union, redirects, here, confused, with, unionism, scotland, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material,. Scottish union redirects here Not to be confused with Unionism in Scotland This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Scottish Trades Union Congress news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Scottish Trades Union Congress STUC is the national trade union centre in Scotland With 40 affiliated unions as of 2020 the STUC represents over 540 000 trade unionists STUCScottish Trades Union CongressMor dhail Aonaidhean ciuird na h AlbaFounded25 27 March 1897HeadquartersGlasgow ScotlandLocationScotlandMembers560 000Key peopleRozanne Foyer General Secretary Mary Senior PresidentWebsitewww wbr stuc wbr org wbr ukThe STUC is a separate organisation from the English and Welsh Trades Union Congress TUC having been established in 1897 as a result of a political dispute with the TUC regarding political representation for the Labour movement 1 The current General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress is Rozanne Foyer Contents 1 Administrative history 2 STUC affiliate unions 3 Projects 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksAdministrative history editThe Scottish Trades Union Congress STUC is a completely independent and autonomous trade union centre for Scotland It is not a Scottish regional organisation of the Trades Union Congress TUC It was established in 1897 largely as a result of a political dispute with the TUC regarding political representation for the Labour movement 2 A number of meetings were held by the various Scottish trades councils to discuss the situation resulting in the formation of the STUC in Glasgow Scotland in March 1897 From the outset the STUC was not in competition with the TUC nor was it a political movement but sought to ensure that in any scheme for the government of Scotland provision should be made for the same industrial legislation being applied throughout Great Britain Close contact was retained with the TUC with reciprocal arrangements existing for mutual assistance and co operation when the occasion warranted The STUC originally had a rented office at 58 Renfield Street Glasgow Scotland in a building belonging to the Scottish Council for Women s Trades Between 1900 and 1949 the STUC had offices in various locations in Glasgow city centre and the Govanhill area of Glasgow before moving to Woodlands Terrace in the west end of the city in 1949 In 1998 the offices moved to Woodlands Road The Annual Congress is the Governing Body of the STUC From the earliest days the Congress concerned itself with a wide range of economic and social questions lobbying British Members of Parliament and from 1999 the Scottish Parliament and executive on major issues Hours and conditions of work and the battles around these issues were always a central preoccupation of the Congress but it also concerned itself with wider issues such as international affairs housing education transport peace racism and social and economic issues as well as promoting and supporting joint trades union councils later renamed trade union councils The struggle for independent working class political representation was one of the concerns on which the Congress was founded and in 1900 the Congress was instrumental in establishing the Scottish Workers Parliamentary Election Committee a forerunner of the Scottish Council of the Labour Party which would nominate and support candidates for Parliamentary elections The Congress was also involved with the Scottish Workers Representation Committee which continued to function until 1909 when its duties were taken over by the national Labour Party A Scottish Council of the Labour Party was formed in 1915 Despite this involvement in the process which established the Labour Party the STUC is not and has never been affiliated to any political party The STUC has always had active women members In 1897 a female delegate Margaret Irwin obtained the highest vote in the election of the first Parliamentary Committee later renamed the General Council the governing body of the Congress She was nominated for chairman but declined nomination on the grounds that to appoint a woman chairman at that time was too premature However she acted as the Parliamentary Secretary and was also Secretary of the Scottish Council for Women s Trade The first female President Bell Jobson presided at the 1937 Congress In 1926 the Organisation of Women Committee later the Women s Advisory Committee now the Women s Committee was established by the Congress specialising in issues relating particularly to women In 1937 the Congress agreed a motion to establish youth fellowships as a way of attracting young people to join the unions and therefore encourage union membership regardless of sex or age It was realised that to create separate youth fellowships was restrictive suggesting that the old and young should work separately Therefore in 1938 it was decided to establish the Trade Union Youth Advisory Committee now called the Youth Committee encouraging youth sections within the existing unions The Committee is elected by an annual conference of young trade unionists that deals with youth related issues and elects a delegation to the Annual Congress which submits three motions and amendments like other affiliates It also organises day and weekend schools and other activities for young trade unionists From the 1930s onwards probably the most important concern of the Congress has been the Scottish economy The STUC has played its part in the legend of Red Clydeside 1910 1922 the period of militancy and protest by the working people of Glasgow and elsewhere It has played a role in many historic struggles of the Scottish people including the General Strike of 1926 the post war reconstruction of Scottish industry and more recent events like the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work in of 1971 1972 the 1984 1985 miners strike and the defeat of the poll tax in the early 1990s The Congress was instrumental in bringing the motor industry to Bathgate and Linwood Scotland in the 1960s the STUC played a central role for many decades in the campaign which established the Scottish Parliament By 1947 the STUC consisted of 83 affiliated trades unions with a membership of 671 630 In addition 51 trades councils were affiliated Membership was made up of members of the Scottish unions and Scottish members of unions covering the British Isles The period 1977 to 1980 saw membership of the STUC peak to over one million with 80 affiliated unions and 45 trades union councils A gradual decline of membership then occurred to a total of 634 797 in 2001 with 46 affiliated unions and 33 trades union councils In 2013 the STUC represented over 630 000 trade unionists the members of 37 affiliated trade unions and 20 Trades Union Councils 3 The focal point of the STUC is its Annual Congress held in April and attended by delegates from affiliated organisations It is the Annual Congress which sets down the policy of the STUC and which elects the General Council known as the Parliamentary Committee until 1923 Between Congresses it is the General Council which implements policy The affiliates are divided into seven sections transport mining and distribution steel engineering and electrical manufacturing municipal general and building financial scientific and technical services civil and public services education and cultural services and trades union councils Each of these sections is represented on the General Council with a number of places in each section reserved for representatives of women workers approximately on the basis of its proportion of the total STUC membership There are also two places on the General Council for representatives of black workers and two places for representatives of young under the age of 26 workers Whilst the General Council is elected by the whole of Congress candidates are restricted to standing for election to the section to which their organisation belongs In 2020 the STUC moved to temporary accommodation in Rutherglen before its planned move to a new build premises in Landressy Street Bridgeton Glasgow in early 2021 STUC affiliate unions editThe following unions were affiliated to the STUC as of July 2020 4 Accord Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen ASLEF Association of Educational Psychologists AEP Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union BFAWU British Airline Pilots Association BALPA British Dietetic Association BDA British Orthoptic Society BOS Chartered Society of Physiotherapy CSP Communication Workers Union CWU Community Educational Institute of Scotland EIS Equity FDA Fire Brigades Union FBU GMB Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association HCSA Musicians Union MU National Association of Racing Staff NAORS National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers NASUWT National Union of Journalists NUJ National Union of Mineworkers NUM National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers RMT Nautilus UK Prison Officers Association Scotland Prospect Public and Commercial Services Union PCS Royal College of Midwives RCM Scottish Artists Union SAU Scottish Secondary Teachers Association SSTA Scottish Society of Playwrights Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists SCP Society of Radiographers SoR Transport Salaried Staffs Association TSSA Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers USDAW UNISON Unite United Road Transport Union URTU University and College Union UCU Projects editScottish Union Learning 5 See also edit nbsp Organised labour portal nbsp Scotland portalList of trade unions List of federations of trade unions SNP Trade Union Group Trades Union Congress Wales TUC Irish Congress of Trade Unions European Trade Union ConfederationReferences edit http www learningservices gcal ac uk archives stuc index html dead link GCU Archives gt Scottish Trade Union Congress STUC Archive Archived from the original on 11 February 2011 About the STUC STUC Scottish Trades Union Congress Affiliated unions Scottish Union Learning Scottish Union Learning Bibliography editThe Bairns o Adam The Story of the STUC by Keith Aitken 1997External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scottish Trades Union Congress amp oldid 1201422489, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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