National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers


The National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers was a trade union in the United Kingdom which existed between 1906 and 1982. It represented farmworkers.

History

The union was established as the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union at a conference of Norfolk agricultural workers at the Angel Hotel, North Walsham on 20 July 1906. Its first President was George Nicholls, its Secretary was George Edwards and its Treasurer was Richard Winfrey. The other members of its Executive Committee were J. Binder, J. Sage, William G. Codling, Herbert Day, J. Bly, C. Holman and J. Stibbins.
The first three branches of the union were in Norfolk at St Faith's and Kenninghall and Shipham.
In 1910 major strikes and disputes broke out in the Norfolk villages of Trunch, Knapton and St Faith's. At St Faith's, the 105 union men were on strike from May 1910 until February 1911 for 1 shilling a week extra.
The organisation changed its name in 1910 to the National Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union. Edwards stood down as Secretary in 1913, but then took up the post of President. In 1920, the union became the National Union of Agricultural Workers, and in 1968 the "National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers".
The union's stronghold was in Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Dorset with over 90% of agricultural labourers being in membership.
William "Bill" Holmes, NUAW General Secretary once told an audience of American trade unionists:
"In many of our villages, a man who joins a trade union is worthy of the Victoria Cross that's won on a battlefield. In many villages he dare not be known to be a member of the union. But to be a branch secretary! That is to risk one's livelihood every day in the week".
The union's journal was The Landworker.
The union became the Agricultural Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union in 1982. The Dorset County Committee organises the annual Tolpuddle Martyrs festival along with the TUC.

Election results

The union worked closely with the Labour Party from its early years. Until 1945, it contributed election expenses to some candidates, but no ongoing expenses to those who won election, and therefore it is often not listed as a sponsor in this period.
ElectionConstituencyCandidateVotesPercentagePosition
1918 general electionKing's Lynn9,78049.12
1918 general electionSouth Norfolk6,53635.72
1920 by-electionHorncastle3,44318.83
1920 by-electionSouth Norfolk8,59445.71
1921 by-electionTaunton8,29038.92
1922 general electionKing's Lynn8,68332.72
1922 general electionSouth Norfolk10,15944.42
1922 general electionStafford7,67241.12
1923 general electionOrmskirk9,38847.02
1923 general electionSouth Norfolk11,68251.91
1924 general electionOrmskirk10,40243.72
1924 general electionSouth Norfolk11,37644.52
1929 general electionEast Norfolk7,85623.43
1931 general electionEast Norfolk6,56220.22
1945 general electionBarkston Ash24,32249.92
1945 general electionHolland with Boston21,26344.12
1945 general electionNorth Norfolk17,75358.71
1950 general electionBarkston Ash18,62642.52
1950 general electionNorth Norfolk19,79048.01
1951 general electionCentral Norfolk17,27044.12
1951 general electionNorth Norfolk21,06750.31
1955 by-electionSouth Norfolk14,25448.52
1955 general electionNorth Norfolk20,89951.51
1955 general electionSouth Norfolk17,21547.92
1955 general electionWorcester19,50843.22
1959 by-electionSouth West Norfolk15,31450.61
1959 general electionNorth Norfolk19,78450.91
1959 general electionSouth Norfolk16,54246.22
1959 general electionSouth West Norfolk16,85850.11
1959 general electionTaunton16,18235.32
1964 general electionNorth Norfolk19,37050.11
1964 general electionSouth West Norfolk16,60549.22
1964 general electionTaunton16,61936.22
1966 general electionNorth Norfolk20,79650.91
1970 general electionLudlow12,80031.72
1970 general electionNorth Norfolk19,90344.72
1974 Oct general electionSheffield Brightside18,10849.71
1979 general electionSheffield Brightside25,67268.51

Leadership

General Secretaries

Presidents