Irish Transport and General Workers' Union: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Irish trade union (1909–1990)}}

{{EngvarB|date=May 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}

{{Infobox union

| name = Irish Transport and General Workers' Union

| full_name =

| native_name = Ceardchumann Iompair agus Ilsaothair na hÉireann

| image = [[File:Meuble héraldique Main.svg|200px]]

| founded = January 1909

| predecessor = [[National Union of Dock Labourers]]

| successor = =

| current dissolved = 1990

| dissolved_datemerged = 1990[[SIPTU]]

| office members =

| dissolved_state = Merged into

| location_country= Ireland

| merged_into = [[SIPTU]]

| membersaffiliation = =

| country key_people = [[IrelandJames Larkin]]

| head headquarters =

| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->

| affiliation =

| people footnotes =

| office =

| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->

| footnotes =

}}

The '''Irish Transport and General Workers Union''' ('''ITGWU''') was a [[trade union]] representing workers, initially mainly [[labourers]], in [[Ireland]].

The '''Irish Transport and General Workers Union''', an [[Ireland|Irish]] [[trade union]], was founded by [[James Larkin]] in January 1909 as a general union.<ref>[http://www.irishlabourhistorysociety.com/index.php?page=tu_hist&title=History%20of%20Trade%20Unions History of Trade Unions], Irish Labour History Society. Retrieved 2013-06-01.</ref><ref>[http://www.nli.ie/pdfs/mss%20lists/itgwu.pdf Irish Transport and General Workers' Union papers], National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 2013-06-01.</ref> Initially drawing its membership from branches of the [[Liverpool]]-based [[National Union of Dock Labourers]], from which Larkin had been expelled, it grew to include workers in a range of industries. The ITGWU logo was the [[Red Hand of Ulster]], which is synonymous with ancient [[Gael]]ic [[Ulster]].

==History==

The ITGWU was at the centre of the [[syndicalist]]-inspired [[Dublin Lockout]] in 1913 and the events left a lasting impression on the ITGWU and hence on the Irish [[Labour Movement]].

{{labor|sp=us}}

The '''Irishunion Transportwas andfounded General Workers Union''', anby [[Ireland|IrishJames Larkin]] and [[tradeJames union]],Fearon was(trade founded by [[unionist)|James LarkinFearon]] in January 1909 as a general union.<ref>[http://www.irishlabourhistorysociety.com/index.php?page=tu_hist&title=History%20of%20Trade%20Unions History of Trade Unions], Irish Labour History Society. Retrieved 1 June 2013-06-01.</ref><ref>[http://www.nli.ie/pdfs/mss%20lists/itgwu.pdf Irish Transport and General Workers' Union papers], National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 1 June 2013-06-01.</ref> Initially drawing its membership from branches of the [[Liverpool]]-based [[National Union of Dock Labourers]], from which Larkin had been expelled, it grew to include workers in a range of industries. The ITGWU logo was the [[Red Hand of Ulster]], which is synonymous with ancient [[Gael]]ic [[Ulster]].

The ITGWU was at the centre of the [[syndicalist]]-inspired [[Dublin Lockout]] in 1913 and, the events of which left a lasting impression on the ITGWUunion and hence on the Irish [[Labour Movement]].

After Larkin's departure for the [[United States]] in 1914 in the wake of the Lockout, James Connolly led the Transport Union until his execution in the wake of the 1916 Rising. In turn, [[William X. O'Brien]] became the union's leading figure, and ultimately served as general secretary for many years. Throughout World War I, the ITGWU consistently opposed Irish belligerence, and staunchly supported the advanced nationalist cause. In fact, ITGWU members, in the uniform of the Irish Citizen Army, played a leading role in the Easter Rising, while the Transport Union led a national strike that crippled an attempt to introduce conscription to Ireland in 1918.<ref>Phelan, Mark, 'World War I and the Legacy of the Dublin Lockout, 1914-1916', in Éire-Ireland (Winter, 2016)</ref>

After Larkin's departure for the [[United States]] in 1914 in the wake of the Lockout, [[James Connolly]] led the Transport UnionITGWU until his execution in 1916 in the wake of the 1916[[Easter Rising]]. In turn, [[William X.O'Brien (trade unionist)|William O'Brien]] became the union's leading figure, and ultimately served as general secretary for many years. Throughout World War I, the ITGWU consistently opposed Irish belligerence, and staunchly supported the advanced nationalist cause. In fact, ITGWU members, in the uniform of the Irish Citizen Army, played a leading role in the Easter Rising, while the Transport Union led a national strike that crippled an attempt to introduce conscription to Ireland in 1918.<ref>Phelan, Mark, 'World War I and the Legacy of the Dublin Lockout, 1914-19161914–1916', in Éire-Ireland (Winter, 2016)</ref>

In 1923, Larkin formed a new union, the [[Workers' Union of Ireland]], to which many of the ITGWU's [[Dublin]] members affiliated.<ref>[http://www.nli.ie/pdfs/mss%20lists/itgwu.pdf Irish Transport and General Workers' Union papers], National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 2013-06-01.</ref> The ITGWU nevertheless remained the dominant force in Irish [[trade unionism]], especially outside the capital. William O'Brien and James Larkin remained bitter personal enemies, and when Larkin and his supporters were readmitted into the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] in the early 1940s, O'Brien engineered a split in the party, with the new [[National Labour Party (Ireland)|National Labour Party]] claiming that the main party had been infiltrated by [[communist]]s. A further split occurred in the [[Irish Trade Union Congress]] when that body accepted the WUI's membership in 1945. The ITGWU left the Congress and established the rival [[Congress of Irish Unions]].

In 1923, Larkin formed a new union, the [[Workers' Union of Ireland]], to which many of the ITGWU's [[Dublin]] members affiliated.<ref>[http://www.nli.ie/pdfs/mss%20lists/itgwu.pdf Irish Transport and General Workers' Union papers], National Library of Ireland. Retrieved 1 June 2013-06-01.</ref> The ITGWU nevertheless remained the dominant force in Irish [[trade unionism]], especially outside the capital. William O'Brien and James Larkin remained bitter personal enemies, and when Larkin and his supporters were readmitted into the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] in the early 1940s, O'Brien engineered a split in the party, with the new [[National Labour Party (Ireland)|National Labour Party]] claiming that the main party had been infiltrated by [[communist]]s. A further split occurred in the [[Irish TradeTrades Union Congress]] when that body accepted the WUI's membership in 1945. The ITGWU left the Congress and established the rival [[Congress of Irish Unions]].

From the 1950s on proposals to merge the two unions were floated. Finally, in 1990, the ITGWU merged with the Workers's Union of Ireland to form [[SIPTU]] (Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union).<ref>[http://www.siptu.ie/aboutsiptu/history/ SIPTU about page.] Retrieved 2013-06-01.</ref>

From the 1950s on proposals to merge the two unions were floated. Finally, in 1990, the ITGWU merged with the Workers's Union of Ireland to form [[SIPTU]] (Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union).<ref>[http://www.siptu.ie/aboutsiptu/history/ SIPTU about page.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060222051550/http://www.siptu.ie/aboutsiptu/history/ |date=22 February 2006 }}. Retrieved 1 June 2013-06-01.</ref>

The ITGWU should not be confused with the [[United Kingdom|British]]-based [[Transport and General Workers Union]], which organised in Ireland under the name ''Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union'' (ATGWU) and is now [[Unite the union]].

The ITGWU should not be confused with the [[United Kingdom|British]]-based [[Transport and General Workers Union]], which organised in Ireland under the name ''Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union'' (ATGWU) and is now [[Unite the unionUnion]].

==Mergers==

The union absorbed numerous smaller trade unions:<ref>Arthur Marsh and John B. Smethurst, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.5, pp.465-467465–467</ref>

:1914: Dublin Coal Factors' Association

:1915: Kilkenny Brewery Labourers' Trade Union

:1917: Irish Glass Bottle Makers' Society, Rathmines and District Workers' Union

:1918: [[Stonecutters' Union of Ireland]] (split 1925)<ref name="devine">{{cite book |last1=Devine |first1=Francis |last2=Smethurst |first2=John B. |title=Historical Directory of Trade Unions in Ireland |date=2017 |publisher=Irish Labour History Society & Working Class Movement Library |___location=Dublin |url=https://www.irishlabourhistorysociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Historical-Directory-of-Trade-Unions-in-Ireland.pdf |access-date=23 January 2025}}</ref>

:1919: Brewery Workers' Association (Cork), Carpet Planners of the City of Dublin, Dublin Saddlers and Harness Makers' Trade Society, Irish Land and Labour Association, Irish National Agricultural and General Workers' Union, Mullingar Trade and Labour Union, Queenstown and District Government Labourers' Union

:1920: United Building Labourers and General Workers of Dublin Trade Union

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:1953: Clothing Workers' Union (Derry)

:1976: [[National Union of Gold, Silver and Allied Trades]] (Irish branches)

:1977: [[Irish Shoe and Leather Workers' Union (Dundalk)]]

:1979: [[Irish Actors' Equity Association]]

:1981: Irish Racecourse Bookmakers' Assistants' Association

:1982: Irish Federation of Musicians and Associated Professionals (later split)

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===General Secretaries===

:1909: [[James Larkin]]

:1924: [[William X.O'Brien (trade unionist)|William O'Brien]]

:1946: [[TomThomas Kennedy (tradeIrish unionistpolitician)|Tom Kennedy]]

:1948: [[Frank Purcell]]

:1959: [[Fintan Kennedy]]

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:1983: [[Christy Kirwan]]

===General Presidentspresidents===

:1909: [[Thomas Foran]]

:1939: [[TomThomas Kennedy (tradeIrish unionistpolitician)|Tom Kennedy]]

:1946: [[William McMullen (politician)|William McMullen]]

:1953: [[John Conroy (trade unionist)|John Conroy]]

:1969: [[Fintan Kennedy]]

:1981: [[John Carroll (trade unionist)|John Carroll]]

===Vice -Presidents===

:1924: [[TomThomas Kennedy (tradeIrish unionistpolitician)|Tom Kennedy]]

:1940: [[William McMullen (politician)|William McMullen]]

:1947: [[John Conroy (trade unionist)|John Conroy]]

:1953: [[Edward Browne (Irish politician)|Edward Browne]]

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==References==

{{reflistReflist}}

{{Portal|Organised labour}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Syndicalist trade unions]]

[[Category:Defunct trade unions of Ireland]]

[[Category:Road transport trade unions]]

[[Category:1908 establishments in Ireland]]

[[Category:Trade unions established in 1909]]

[[Category:Trade unions disestablished in 1990]]

[[Category:Transport trade unions in Ireland]]

[[Category:1990 disestablishments in Ireland]]