TUC Conference Reports

Title: TUC Conference Reports

Description: The reports minute the annual conference proceedings of the Trade Union Congress. Delegates, represented unions, speakers, proposed motions, debates and decisions are all listed. The debates are topical, connected to recent events or legislation. e.g. Alien Laws 1925 Disputes and concerns of the individual unions are expressed as motions which are either carried or rejected by the Congress. Interaction with relevant government officials over some issues.e.g. Secretary for the Colonies occasionally occur at conference. Immigration and the employment of Asiatic seamen are of particular concern, especially for the Mercantile Marine Unions early in the century. In 1916 the Sailors and Firemens Union proposed a motion requesting the Government to introduce a bill 'repatriating all Chinese who cannot produce satisfactory evidence proving they are of British nationality.' (p328) In 1919 following an address from Mr Wadia, an Indian delegate at the Conference, the Sailors and Firemens Union proposed that there should be a preferement of employment first to British white then to British coloured and finally to Chinese seamen. (p373) After 1955 debates on racial discrimination, equal opportunities, race relations, recruitment, positive action, anti-racism and immigration regularly occur. International issues are also commonly discussed and reports are given on the strength or activity of Trade Unions in various countries particularly South Africa, Australia, Canada, India, Caribbean and other former colonies or Commonwealth countries. Motions calling for strong ties between British and International Trade Unions are frequent and conferences such as the British Empire Labour Congress 1917, British Commowealth Labour Conference 1925, World Trade Union Conference 1945 and the activities of organisations like the International Labour Organisation are often discussed . Imperialism, Empire, Dominions are also common topics.

Strengths: The collection is particularly useful for charting the reaction of the Trade Unions to Black and Asian employment over the century; immigration is a widely debated topic. The development of Equal Opportunities, anti-racist campaigns and links between the Unions and Race Relations / Racial Equality bodies are also strong areas. A lot of material exists reporting on the development of International Trade Unions, particularly in the Colonies/Commonwealth and the establishment of links between them and the TUC through conferences, educational exchange programmes etc. Reports are often given on individual countries in the Caribbean particularly Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, Grenada, Bahamas or generally titled as British Commonwealth. International Labour Conferences are often reported in depth.

Size: 5 boxes 1869-1915, 80 printed vols 1916-1994; 12 reports 1995-2000

Catalogue: Contemporary Index to contents with each volume from c 1908-2000. The index is arranged as an agenda 1908-1923 and then alphabetically 1924-2000

Catalogue URL:

Main URL: http://www.unl.ac.uk/library/tuc/

Access: Access for all users is by appointment only and at the discretion of the Librarian. Under normal circumstances, academic users must be at postgraduate level, but undergraduates may use the Collection with the written authorisation of their supervisor. TUC staff and other trade union staff and officials will be given access, as will other external users who are pursuing research interests which cannot easily be met elsewhere. The collections are available for reference purposes only.
The library's opening hours for visitors are Monday - Friday 9.15 - 16.45. It is closed at weekends and public holidays, with longer breaks Christmas and New Year.
There is no charge for access. There is wheelchair access.
To make an appointment, telephone 020 7753 3184, fax 020 7753 3191 or email tuclib@unl.ac.uk

Acquisition dates:

Note:

Interest: Caribbean, Black, Asian

Complete: Complete

Subjects

Lascars

Black and Asian Seamen

Government

Public administration

Immigration

Imperialism

British Empire

Employment

Trade unions

Personal/Corporate names

Trades Union Congress

National Union of Seamen

Mercantile Marine Union

Places

United Kingdom