National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers (formerly the Amalgamated Stevedores' Labour Protection League)

Scope and Content

Executive Council minutes, 1924-82; Stevedores' Section Executive Committee minutes, 1896-1974; Stevedores' Section Sectional Reports Committee minutes, 1937-69; Dockers' Section minutes, 1925-74; correspondence, 1948-78; various minutes, 1945-82; dock labour board minutes, reports, 1950-82; annual reports, 1922-66; ledgers, account books, 1898-1966; subject files, including correspondence with employers c.1961-75; General Secretary's correspondence, 1955-80, notes, diary, 1949-57; The Dockworker, 1972-8; regional minutes, correspondence, 1944-82; Stevedores' Section branch minutes, correspondence, 1880-1978; agreements, including agreements with employers, 1945-73; Stevedores' Section press-cuttings, 1900-23.

This collection has not been fully catalogued.

Administrative / Biographical History

The Amalgamated Stevedores' Labour Protection League was formed in 1872. It was involved in the negotiations which led to the formation of the Transport and General Workers' Union in 1922, but its members voted not to join the amalgamation. Instead it amalgamated with disaffected members of the Amalgamated Society of Watermen, Lightermen and Bargemen who were unhappy about that union's participation in the formation of the T&G to form the National Amalgamated Stevedores, Lightermen, Watermen and Dockers.

In 1925 the watermen and lightermen considered joining the T&G, but instead decided to form their own union, the Watermen, Lightermen, Tugmen and Bargemen's Union. When this was formed in 1927 the remaining part of the union renamed itself the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers. This was also known as the 'Blue Union'. The NASD had a longstanding rivalry with the T&G, but finally amalgamated with it in 1982.

Access Information

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Other Finding Aids

Custodial History

Rule books deposited by the TGWU and the remainder by the NMLH (The People's History Museum)