Fawcett Association

The Fawcett Association was a trade union representing postal clerks in London.

Fawcett Association
Founded1890
Date dissolved1919
Merged intoUnion of Post Office Workers
Members3,750 (1904)
AffiliationTUC
Key peopleWallace Bligh Cheesman (Gen Sec)
Office location55 Doughty Street, London
CountryEngland

History

The union was founded in 1890. It was named after Henry Fawcett, who it considered had been sympathetic to workers when he was Postmaster General.[1]

For most of its existence, the union's general secretary was Wallace Bligh Cheesman, and its chairman was William E. Clery. They were sacked from the Post Office after they circulated information about candidates in the 1892 general election, and attempted to get them to express support for the union. However, Cheesman remained the union's secretary throughout its existence.[2][3]

Cheesman decided to work closely with other unions, and in 1893, the Fawcett Association became the first clerical union to affiliate to the Trades Union Congress. It also joined the United Government Workers' Federation, and formed the National Joint Committee of Postal and Telegraph Associations in 1897, with the Postmen's Federation, Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association and United Kingdom Postal Clerks' Association.[1]

The union was represented at the founding meeting of the Labour Representation Committee (LRC). Clery was adopted as an LRC candidate in 1901, but was also adopted as a Liberal-Labour candidate for Deptford. This proved controversial, and he did not ultimately stand under either label.[1]

Membership of the union grew steadily, reaching 3,750 by 1904. The Postal Bagmen's Association and the Women Sorters' Association affiliated to the Fawcett Association in 1906. In 1919, it merged with the Postmen's Federation and the Postal and Telegraph Clerks' Association, forming the Union of Post Office Workers.[1]

Leadership

General Secretaries

1889: L. Leader[4]
1890: William E. Clery[4]
1890: H. Hall[4]
1890: William E. Clery[4]
1891: J. Guest[4]
1892: Wallace Bligh Cheesman[4]

Chairs

1889: J. H. Williams[4]
1893: William E. Clery[4]
1903: G. W. Gains[4]
1905: A. J. Mosedale[4]
1908: E. J. Nevill[4]
1911: Charles Ammon[4]

Treasurer

1889: H. Groves[4]
1899: W. E. Smith[4]
1902: J. Fitzgerald[4]
1917: C. P. Randall[4]

References

  1. Marsh, Arthur; Ryan, Victoria (1980). Historical Directory of Trade Unions. 1. Farnborough: Gower. p. 86. ISBN 0566021609.
  2. The Labour Who's Who 1927. London: The Labour Publishing Company. 1927. p. 39.
  3. Sumeray, Derek; Sheppard, John. London Plaques. Shire Publications.
  4. Clinton, Alan (1984). Post Office Workers. George Allen and Unwin. ISBN 0043310869.
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