National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers

The late 19th century saw the rise of the labour movement in the United Kingdom. As the movement grew in the agricultural sector, conflict increased between three main groups:^[4]

• farmworkers, those farming on land on which they had no control over;
• tenant farmers, those renting the land to farm; and
• landowners, those owning the agricultural land.

In the early 1870s, British farmworkers began organising agricultural trade unions such as the Lincolnshire Labour League (later the Amalgamated Labour League), the Warwickshire Agricultural Labourers Union (later the National Agricultural Labourers' Union), and the Kent and Sussex Agricultural Labourers' Union. These unions initially achieved modest victories and growth, but a series of unsuccessful attempts to use collective action resulted in the decline and dissolution of early farmworkers' unions.^[4]

After the victory of the Liberal Party in the 1906 UK general election, many farm owners were angered by the rejection of the Conservative Party. Farm owners took revenge by sacking and evicting farmers who they suspected of radical views or of Liberal sympathies.^[4][5]

In Norfolk, farm workers saught the help of Liberal counciller and trade union activist George Edwards. Ewards had previously been involved with union organising, but initially believed he wasn't equal to the task.^[5] After being convinced by his wife, Charlotte Edwards, George Edwards agreed to help establish a farmerworker's union. In early June, Edwards began making use of his connections with union activists and Liberal members to raise funds.^[5][4] While some supporting Liberals expressed scepticism, two Liberal MPs — George Nicholls and Richard Winfrey — pledged to attend the founding the conference in addition their donations.^[5]

Through this, £10 in funds (equivalent to £1,359 in 2023) were raised. Although the cost of hosting a conference at the Angel Hotel in North Walsham was £11, Edwards himself funded the difference out of his own pocket.^[6] With this, the conference was held on 20 July 1906, with attending Norfolk agricultural workers voting to establish the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union.^[4][7]

George Edwards was the union's inaugeral General Secretary, and was paid 13 shillings a week. Other leadership positions were held by George Nicholls, the union's first president, and Richard Winfrey, its first treasurer. The remainder of its Executive Committee consisted of J. Binder, J. Sage, William G. Codling, Herbert Day, J. Bly, C. Holman and J. Stibbins.^[4][7] Much of the union's early leadership were trade union moderates associated with the Liberal Party, and shyed away from any actions they considered militant. George Edwards himself described strike action as a horror, and often worked to prevent strikes.^[8]

The first three branches of the union were in Norfolk, One in St Faith's (former stronghold of Joseph Arch's old National Agricultural Labourers Union), one in Kenninghall, and one in Shipham.^[7] By the end of 1906, the union had established fifty-seven branches, and had a total of 1,600 members.^[4]

In March 1910, major strikes for better pay and conditions broke out in the Norfolk villages of Trunch, and spread to Knapton and St Faith's.^[8] At St Faith's, the 105 union men were on strike from May 1910 until February 1911 for 1 shilling a week extra.^[7] The strike action was unsuccessful, with many union members supicious of the Liberal Party undermining them. As a result, at the Union's February 1911 Fakenham conference, the Union's members voted to affiliate to the Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress.^[8]

The organisation changed its name in 1912 to the National Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union.^[7][8] George Edwards stood down as General Secretary in 1913, but then took up the post of President.^[9] In 1920, the Union became the National Union of Agricultural Workers, and in 1968 the "National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers".^[7][10]

The union not only fought for worker's rights but also provide social activities.^[11]

The union's stronghold was in Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Dorset with over 90% of agricultural labourers being in membership.^{[citation needed]}

William "Bill" Holmes, NUAW General Secretary once told an audience of American trade unionists: "In many of our villages, a man who joins a trade union is worthy of the Victoria Cross that's won on a battlefield. In many villages he dare not be known to be a member of the union. But to be a branch secretary! That is to risk one's livelihood every day in the week".

In 1982, the union was dissolved and became part of the Agricultural Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

The Dorset County Committee organises the annual Tolpuddle Martyrs festival along with the TUC.

The union worked closely with the Labour Party from its early years.^[12] Until 1945, it contributed election expenses to some candidates, but no ongoing expenses to those who won election, and therefore it is often not listed as a sponsor in this period.^[13]

1906: George Edwards

1913: Robert Barrie Walker

1928: Bill Holmes

1944: Alf Dann

1953: Harold Collison

1969: Reg Bottini

1978: Jack Boddy

1906: George Nicholls

1911: Walter Robert Smith^[27]

1923: Bill Holmes^[28]

1928: Edwin Gooch

1966: Bert Hazell

1978: John Hose

• List of trade unions
• List of Transport and General Workers' Union amalgamations
• Transport and General Workers' Union

• Catalogue of the NUAW archives held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
• Country Standard
• Account of the founding of the union From EASF website