Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union

The union dates its origin to 1847. The Manchester Friendly Association of Operative Bakers was established in 1849, and by 1854 it was led by Thomas Hodson. Under his leadership, the union first expanded to represent bakers in Salford, becoming the first bakers' union in England to cover a wide area, though its membership remainder under 200. In 1861, Hodson led the formation of the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers, bringing together unions in Bristol, Cheltenham, Hanley, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Warrington and Wigan, along with his Manchester society. It gained prominence when its 1861 campaign for improvements in working conditions led to the Bakehouse Regulations Act 1863. In about 1870, the union relocated its headquarters to London, but the majority of its members were still from Lancashire. Other unions gradually joined, such as the South Wales Federation of Journeymen Bakers, in 1893. By 1891, the union claimed 4,000 members, with nearly half from London.[4]

For many years, the union would not admit workers it considered unskilled, and this led its London organiser, C. Mann, to form the rival National Union of Bakery Trade Workers in 1913. The following year, the Operative Bakers finally agreed to accept all workers in the industry, renaming itself as the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers, Confectioners and Allied Workers of Great Britain and Ireland, and Mann's split dissolved. In 1920, the union agreed to transfer its members in the milling industry to the rival Dock, Wharf and Riverside Workers' Union.[4]

The union focused its campaigns on shorter working hours, better pay and working conditions. In 1919, it led a major strike against night work, but this was unsuccessful. It recruited well in co-operative bakeries, but struggled elsewhere, until World War II. In 1935, it barred master bakers from holding office in the union.[4]

The union became more centralised in the 1950s, and in 1964, it shortened its name to become the Bakers' Union. This was later lengthened to the present name.[4]

In July 2015, the BFAWU endorsed Jeremy Corbyn's campaign in the Labour Party leadership election.[5]

In 2017, BFAWU members staged the first strikes at McDonald's in the UK.[6]

During the 2020 Labour Party leadership election, the union backed Rebecca Long-Bailey. They also backed Richard Burgon for deputy leader.[7]

In November 2020, the union announced that it plans to consult members on whether to remain affiliated with the Labour Party following the suspension of former party leader Jeremy Corbyn.[8]

The union sponsored Labour Party candidates in several Parliamentary elections, winning twice.[9][10]

• Arthur Marsh, Victoria Ryan and John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions

• Official website