London Trades Council

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 1924 London Trades Council
Held at	: Trades Union Congress (TUC) Library Collections at London Metropolitan University   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://student.londonmet.ac.uk/library/using-the-library/special-collections/trades-union-congress-library-collections/ ›
Full title	: London Trades Council
Date(s)	: 1860-1971
Level of description	: Collection (Fonds)
Extent	: 52 volumes
Name of creator(s)	: London Trades Council

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The London Trades Council (LTC) was founded in 1860 as one of the first Trades Councils in the country. It was instrumental with other Trades Councils, particularly Manchester and Salford, in setting up the Trades Union Congress. It had a prominent role in the various working class struggles in the capital and nationally. In the 1860s it assisted in the set-up of the International Working Men's Association (the "First International"). It became closely involved in the struggles of New Unionism - particularly in the docks, the match girls, and gas workers. It took a leading role in opposing the use of troops in industrial disputes.

Through all the struggles of the 1900s, the LTC took a leading role - including the period of intense struggle from 1919 to the General Strike of 1926 - and on in to the 30s, 40s and 50s. In the Second World War it campaigned for equal pay for women workers mobilized for the war effort. It promoted increased production in combination with a greater say for workers in organizing production. In 1941 it organized a rally in Trafalgar Square supporting the Soviet Union, thus laying the foundations for the Second Front campaign. In the post-war period it campaigned for the nationalization of the mines, electricity supply and transport. In the 1950s the LTC was in conflict with the TUC and the London Federation of Trades Councils was set up.

The Greater London Association of Trade Union Councils was formed in 1974 to succeed the London Federation, and remains active.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the London Trades Council, 1860-1971, comprising: Minute books, 1860-1971, series also contains minutes of TUC General Arrangements Committee, 1901-1902, and extracts of minutes relating to the National Workmen's Exhibition, 1892; Annual Reports, 1873-1878, 1882-1888, 1890-1899, 1913-1915, 1924, 1926-1927, 1929-1930, 1932, 1935-1952; Press cuttings 1885-1886, 1930-1947, 1954-1957; Account Book, 1860-1874; Minutes of Central Workers' Committee on Unemployment, 1905-1907; Jubilee Souvenir, 1860-1910; London Joint Advisory Council of Trade Unionists and Co-operators: Annual Report, 1919-1920; file of correspondence/nomination forms on representation on outside bodies, 1970-1971.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Papers arranged in four series, Minute Books, Annual Reports, Press Cuttings and Miscellanea.

Conditions governing access:

Open to bona fide researchers at the discretion of the TUC Librarian.

Conditions governing reproduction:

At the discretion of the TUC Librarian and subject to copyright conditions.

Finding aids:

List (1998), copy at the National Register of Archives, Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts.

Archival Information

Archival history:

The papers were delivered to the TUC Library by Lord Feather in 1973.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were transferred to the TUC Library Collections in the University of North London by the TUC in January 1998.

Allied Materials

Related material:

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000 and National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Mar 2002