Description

Admin History:

The Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers came into existence in 1963 as a result of the amalgamation of the Associated Blacksmiths, Forge and Smithy Workers Society, the United Society of Boilermakers, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers, and the Shipconstructors and Shipwrights Association. After the amalgamation each society continued to operate independently for trade purposes until full integration took place six years later. In 1971 the membership was around 30,000 and was largely involved in shipbuilding. The Society represented workers involved in shipbuilding engineering trades, for example, welders, riveters and boilermakers (Marsh & Ryan, Historical directory of trade unions, ii, pp.72-3).

These records relate to the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron and Steel Shipbuilders, formed from the United Friendly Boilermakers Society in 1852 with the merger of the Scottish Society of Boilermakers and the Amicable and Provident Society of Journeymen Boilermakers of Great Britain. The United Friendly Boilermakers Society had its origins in the formation in 1834 of the Society of Friendly Boilermakers with a membership of fourteen and William Hughes as the first general secretary. In 1852 there were 2000 members. The Society stressed brotherhood and it adhered to strict rules about the age and health of its membership because it paid generous sickness benefits to workers and centralised branch funds aided members during trade depressions. In 1870 the Society affiliated to the Trades Union Council and there was a later name change to the United Society of Boilermakers, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers. The papers end with the large amalgamation of 1963 (Marsh & Ryan, Historical directory of trade unions, ii, p.88).

Description:

These records comprise records of the Hull No.1 branch (1862-1936) including a minute book 1910-1931, a treasurer's receipt book 1862-1864, savings bank books 1886-1905, quarterly statements of accounts 1890 and 1892, members' declaration books 1872-1897 and assorted papers related to wage rates; bye-laws and rules of the Society (1894-1940); price lists (1888-1945) particularly for platers and riveters; wage rates (1899-1930) the earliest being for Merseyside; agreements (1894-1941); various papers (1897-1940) including the form of initiation into the society, an 1897 register of apprentices in Hull, correspondence about prices and demarcation disputes and the Friendly Boilermakers Society chairman's gavel (mid-nineteenth century).