History

"The National Association of Local Government Officers (NALGO), Reading District Branch, was founded in 1918 as the First World War came to a close. This was period of political and economic instability for Britain. Workers, including those in local government, were joining unions to protect their interests in these uncertain times. Trade union membership reached around six and a half million by 1920.

NALGO was formed in 1905 and mostly represented local government ‘white collar’ workers. At first NALGO did not see itself as a trade union, but changed by the close of the First World War and in 1920 it became a trade union. NALGO was one of several public sector unions that merged in 1993 to form UNISON, Britain’s largest union. The badge was donated by UNISON, Reading Borough branch, to the Museum of Reading along with a roll of branch presidents from 1918 to 1945.

During a recent move of offices the branch archives dating back to the inaugural meeting at the Old Town Hall in 1918 were uncovered. These present a fascinating account of the history of the branch and a decision was made to lodge these papers with Berkshire Record Office, where there can be viewed by local historians and anyone interested in the history of working life  in Reading." more details

 

History of Reading Borough council branch

"In 1981 Reading Museum and Art Gallery staged an exhibition called "A Fight for Life and Liberty: A History of Reading Trades Council". Lorenzo Quelch was Reading first Socialist Councillor and as Secretary of the Trades Council, it was he who convened the meeting, Chair by Cllr J Rabson, that formed the Labour Party in Reading on April 6th 1918. Shortly afterwards a branch of NALGO was formed in Reading Corporation, this became the Reading Borough Branch of UNISON in 1993" more details

 

History of Trades Unions

Detailed history of Trade Unions more details