Unions Collection

National Union, Gas worker and General Labourers, 1889 (colour litho)
XCF272232 National Union, Gas worker and General Labourers, 1889 (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Market Hill and former workhouse, Maldon
A view of Market Hill, Maldon, Essex. The large building at the left is the Maldon Unions former workhouse. Date: circa 1900

Gathering of Unions / 1832
THE GATHERING OF THE UNIONS Three meetings organised by the Birmingham Political Union, held at New Hall Hill during May, maintain the pressure for electoral reform

North Surrey District School, Anerley, Upper Norwood, Surrey
The North Surrey District School at Anerley, Upper Norwood, with the Crystal Palace visible behind. The school was opened in 1850 to house pauper children away from the workhouse

Langho Colony, Ribblesdale, Lancashire
Aerial view of the Langho Colony set up in 1906 by the Chorlton and Manchester Unions for the treatment of patients suffering from epilepsy

Booth Hall Infirmary, Manchester
Aerial view of Booth Hall Infirmary, Charlestown Road, Blackley, Manchester. Booth Hall was built in 1908 as an infirmary for the Prestwich Union but

Yorkshire N. U. M. leaders
Leaders of the Yorkshire National Union of Mineworkers, including Arthur Scargill, support a demonstration calling for early retirement for all their members

Main building, Wigmore Schools, West Midlands
General view of the main building of the Walsall and West Bromwich District School on Pennyhill Lane, Wigmore. The school opened in 1870 to house workhouse children from the two unions

Entrance to Ashford Residential School, Surrey
Located on Woodthorpe Road, at Ashford, near Staines, Surrey, and opened in 1872 as the West London District School, it provided accommodation away from the workhouse for pauper children from

Shotton Works Demo C1972
Demonstration by Shotton steel workers against the closure of their factory

General Robert Lee and his staff, Gettysburg, PA (colour litho)
3095844 General Robert Lee and his staff, Gettysburg, PA (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: General Robert Lee and his staff, Gettysburg, PA)

Miner at the pithead at the Darlington Colliery. PM 81-03527-003

Police guarding Liverpool Station during transport strike
Policemen on horseback guarding Liverpool Station during the general transport strike of 1911. The strike began with two of the seamens unions, resulting from a range of grievances

Workers - May Day 1936
Workers organisations May Day celebrations in Hyde Park - London

Public notice advising caution to people thinking of joining illegal societies or unions, early 19th century
5614415 Public notice advising caution to people thinking of joining illegal societies or unions, early 19th century; (add.info)

Anti-Trades Union cartoon showing a meeting of a Trades' Union Committee, top
527917 Anti-Trades Union cartoon showing a meeting of a Trades' Union Committee, top, and the Duke of Wellington putting down the Trade Unions. London c1833. ; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Satirical view of Trade Unions and their demands from tailors and bricklayers to police and clergy. Lithograph 1830s
527860 Satirical view of Trade Unions and their demands from tailors and bricklayers to police and clergy. Lithograph 1830s. ; Universal History Archive/UIG.

John Elliot Burns, 1858 - 1943
3083294 John Elliot Burns, 1858 - 1943.; Private Collection; (add.info.: English trade unionist and politician. From The Century Edition of Cassell's History of England, published c. 1900).

Record of the conviction of several of the Tolpuddle Martyrs
3119342 Record of the conviction of several of the Tolpuddle Martyrs; (add.info.: Record of the conviction of several of the Tolpuddle Martyrs a group of 19th century English agricultural labourers)

Great Meeting of the Political Unions, New Hall Hill, Birmingham, May 1832. Engraving
527847 Great Meeting of the Political Unions, New Hall Hill, Birmingham, May 1832. Engraving.; Universal History Archive/UIG.

The Transport and General Workers Union Convalescent Home, Littleport, East Cambridgeshire, within the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England Date: circa 1920s

An Allegory of Social Strife, by Archibald Ziegler
An Allegory of Social Strife, a painting by Archibald Ziegler. A reflection on postwar mass unemployment and social unrest, recalling the 1926 General Strike. late 1920s

Norman Willis, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress with Neil Kinnock, Labour Leader, TUC Conference, Bournemouth, Tuesday 6th September 1988

TGWU Union leader Barney Ward, pictures at Middlesbrough Dock, 11th May 1971

Former Transport and General Workers Union district secretary Mr Barney Ward has been presented with the unions highest honour, a gold medal, from the general executive council

A petition signed by staff of Avana Bakery, Cardiff, is going to be presented to their local MP Mr James Callaghan, against proposed takeover of the firm

Colonel John Ward MP - trade unionist

Harland and Wolff, Belfast, set of 24 postcards
Harland and Wolff, Belfast, 24 of a collection of 31 postcards from shop stewards of different unions relating to the shipyard from September 1911. Date: 1910s

Front cover, The British Gazette, General Strike, 1926
Upper part of front cover, The Briitish Gazette, covering the General Strike, 8 May 1926 Date: 1926

Karl Marx at IWMA meeting, London
Reproduction of a painting by O.G. Verejski entitled Marx at the IWMA Meeting. Karl Marx was attending, but not speaking at, a meeting of the IWMA (International Working Men's Association)

NUS President Trevor Phillips and campaigners
NUS President Trevor Phillips (left, b. 1953, later a writer and broadcaster) and campaigning students from the London Boroughs of Harrow and Kingston, outside the Education Department in Waterloo

NUS President Charles Clarke and three colleagues
NUS President Charles Clarke (standing, b.1950, later a Labour MP and Cabinet Minister)) with NUS executive colleagues, from left to right, Alastair Stewart (b)

NUS President Charles Clarke with two students
NUS (National Union of Students) President Charles Clarke (b.1950, later a Labour MP and Cabinet Minister) with two students, Clare Weber and Paul Butler

Children demonstrating to save school playing fields
Children demonstrating to save their school playing fields, Havering, Essex. Date: circa 1970s

Employment protest, Liverpool
Employment protest in Liverpool, 17 March 1979. Those taking part include Dunlop workers, Tate & Lyle workers, and members of the National Union of Seamen. Date: 1979

British Leyland workers protesting, London
British Leyland workers protesting during a strike, and taking part in a demonstration in London which included a march to the House of Commons

Official picket line outside Vauxhall Motors, Dunstable
Official picket line with placards outside Vauxhall Motors, Dunstable. Date: circa 1970s

GEC workers campaigning, GEC Headquarters, London
GEC workers campaigning outside the GEC Headquarters in London during a lockout from the Keith Blackman works at Tottenham, 18 March 1970. Date: 1970

Members of NUTGW campaigning
Members of NUTGW (National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers), NATSOPA (National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants)

Members of DATA campaigning, Tothill Street, London
Members of DATA (Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians Association) from Rolls Royce, Coventry, campaigning in Tothill Street, London, 21 August 1970

Spanish Civil War Advertizing For The Subscription
spanish, civil, war, advertizing, for, the, subscription, of, newspaper, el, magisterio, espanol, propaganda, poster, by, republicans, spain, salamanca, archivo, historico, nacional, trade, union

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). No envieu els vostres productes al mercat lliure. Veneu-los a traves dels sindicats agricoles (Don't send you produces to the free market)

Peoples March for Jobs 1983
The Peoples March for Jobs, organised by the Trades Union Congress, reaches London in early June 1983. It had set off from Glasgow on 23 April Date: 3 June 1983

Scottish miners demonstration
Scottish miners, their wives and children on a demonstration during the 1984-85 miners strike Date: 1984

Supporting Miners strike 1984
Speakers in support of the Mineworkers strike of 1984, in front of a banner of the Cortonwood branch of the National Union of Mineworkers

Miners ballot October 1982
A group of Yorkshire miners support the motion to strike over pay and pit closures in October 1982. They were in the minority as 61% of miners nationally voted against. and strike action was avoided

The Battle of Saltley Gate
At Saltley Coke Depot, Birmingham, police struggle to hold back pickets who had gathered to force the closure of the Depot

Jimmy Reid, Scottish trade unionist, journalist, etc
James "Jimmy" Reid (1932-2010), Scottish trade union activist, orator, politician and journalist. Seen here (centre) taking part in a street demonstration

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"Unions: A Historical Tapestry of Solidarity and Progress" In this captivating image, we are transported back to the year 1889, where a vibrant scene unfolds before our eyes. The colour lithograph showcases members of the National Union, specifically gas workers and general labourers, as they gather together in unity. Their determination is palpable as they fight for fair wages and improved working conditions. Moving forward in time, we find ourselves at Market Hill and the former workhouse in Maldon. This location serves as a reminder of how they have played a pivotal role in advocating for social justice throughout history. From the gathering in 1832 to their presence at North Surrey District School in Upper Norwood, Surrey - these institutions stand testament to the power of collective action. As we delve further into this narrative, we encounter Langho Colony nestled within Ribblesdale, Lancashire. Here lies an embodiment of solidarity through shared resources and communal living arrangements – a testament to how they are foster not only economic equality but also create supportive communities. The historical significance continues with General Robert Lee and his staff depicted vividly amidst Gettysburg's landscape. This striking colour lithograph reminds us that even during times of conflict like the Civil War era, they were instrumental in protecting workers' rights amid chaos. Shifting gears geographically brings us to Wigmore Schools' main building located within West Midlands. This educational institution stands tall as a symbol of union-backed efforts towards providing quality education for all. Further south lies Ashford Residential School's entrance situated amidst picturesque surroundings in Surrey. It represents yet another facet where they have championed equal opportunities by ensuring access to education regardless of socio-economic backgrounds. Fast-forwarding several decades brings us closer to home with Shotton Works Demo C1972 – an iconic moment when workers united against injustice on their own doorstep.