INTRODUCTION FROM MANUEL CORTES, GENERAL
SECRETARY???
A Remarkable Journey
A short history of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association
CONTENTS
1897-1919
1920-1944
1945-1978
1979-2014
The TSSA and Ireland
The TSSA and Politics
The TSSA and Education
The TSSA: Sport, Social Activities and Young People
The TSSA and Equality
The TSSA and Internationalism
Our General Secretaries
Our Presidents
Our National Treasurers
RCA/TSSA Membership and Branches
1897-1919
The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) was established on
4th April 1897 at the Burngreave Vestry Hall, Sheffield. At this time it
was called the National Association of General Railway Clerks; in 1899 it
became the Railway Clerks’ Association and in 1951 the TSSA. This first
meeting had been organised by a former railway clerk, Charles BassettVincent, who had helped to build the Amalgamated Society of Railway
Servants. This was in response to an approach by clerical workers who
asked him to assist them in forming a union. Faced with oppressive
management, low salaries, long hours of work, poor working conditions
and favouritism in promotion, they knew their task was immense.
However, the most significant factor that stimulated railway clerks to act
collectively, was the advances made by other grades of railway workers
who had already established their unions.
Charles BassettVincent
The Chairman of the meeting held at the
Burngreave Vestry Hall was Charles Hobson JP, a
local councillor and President of Sheffield Trades
Council. At the end of the meeting the National
Association of General Railway Clerks was
launched; Bassett-Vincent was appointed as
General Secretary and Treasurer, and the
Association’s future was now in the hands of a
small number of brave and very determined
Burngreave Vestry Hall
Willberforce Café
people. A company spy told his employers that nothing would come of it - how wrong he was.
The first official branch meeting took place at the Wilberforce Café, Sheffield on 9th May and the
Association’s first conference was held at the Wentworth Café, Sheffield, on
7th November 1897. They were confident that their numbers would grow
J. Batty Langley
but they had no idea that the Association would have six General
Secretaries by 1906. After a period of turmoil and concern for the
MP
Association’s survival, it was the election of Alexander Walkden in 1906 that
gave the RCA the stability it required; his managerial skills influenced the
Association for many years.
An indication of the Association’s approach to industrial relations was that
its motto was “Defence Not Defiance”. This was a deliberate decision taken
by members to indicate to their employers that the Association should not
be seen as other trade unions. They had no intention of taking industrial
action and believed that if they addressed their grievances to the railway
companies in a fair, reasonable manner, they would be heard and the
justice of their case recognised. They were mistaken; the railway directors
saw the establishment of the Association as an act of betrayal and thought
that the first loyalty of their clerical employees should be the interests and
profitability of the company.
To help launch the Association and to keep members advised of progress a
magazine, the Railway Herald, was used. For a short period another
outside magazine, Nibs and Quills, was the official organ of the General
Railway Clerks’ Association. Then, when the Railway Herald began to
experience financial problems, the Association launched The Railway Clerk
in January 1904. By this time the Association had made substantial
progress and 53 branches had been established. By 1908 Walkden had a
clerk to assist him, an accountant and a national organiser. At the same
time divisional councils were being established to assist the growth of
further branches.
When the Association was established railway clerical workers were
amongst the very few people who had a company pension scheme. These
were highly valued but some railway workers thought that this important
benefit discouraged clerical workers from campaigning more vigorously for
pay increases. However, when the Lancashire and Yorkshire
Railway sought to discontinue contributions to its
superannuation fund in 1904, considerable indignation was
expressed. The company also sought to retain the interest
from the fund’s investments, but with the assistance of
political friends and the Association’s President, Sir
Fortescue Flannery MP, the company retreated. It also
agreed to provide a seat for a clerical representative on the
fund’s committee which had previously been monopolised by company officials. Following
representations by the RCA a Board of Trade enquiry was established with RCA members giving
evidence. When the report was published in 1910 many recommendations were proposed. The
RCA continued to campaign for clerical representatives to be elected on to all company
superannuation fund committees and within two years this had been achieved. It was a remarkable
achievement!
Despite the Association’s moderation the Railway Companies’ Association refused to recognise
the RCA’s General Secretary but in 1906 they agreed to receive deputations to
redress grievances. This led to the establishment of elected Line Committees
to negotiate with the companies’ representatives. Up to this time employees
had made their pay claims to directors through “round robins” or memorials but
with the introduction of Line Committees, their salary claims became
increasingly more sophisticated. The memorials, which contained details
reasons why an increase should be awarded, were frequently bound in leather.
However, although some gains were made nothing like proper negotiations
took place. Year by year members came to realise that recognition was
imperative to achieving fair conditions of work and better rates of pay. Many
members also came to the conclusion that strike action might become
necessary if the companies continued their obdurate attitude. Indeed, in
1913, during a period of national industrial unrest, “Defence Not Defiance”
was dropped.
Health and safety was, and remains, a key part of trade union work. In 1911,
lay member Arthur Chandler carried out an investigation and found that many
railway clerks had died from consumption. In 1912 the Association presented
a Railway Offices Bill to parliament which set out office standards, conditions
of service, a working week of 42 hours and restrictions on overtime. It failed
to be enacted but following the publicity it received some improvements were
made by the companies; it was an important start.
By 1914 the RCA’s structure was well established and there were 29,394
members in 233 branches. On the day war was declared the railways were
brought under state control; this was opposed by the RCA and its call for
public ownership and for trade unionists to share in its management was
rejected. The Association supported the 1914 - 1918 war but opposed
conscription. It sought and received assurances that war volunteers would be
reinstated on their return, but although a “war bonus” was granted to the Conciliation Grades to
match rising prices, this was denied to railway clerks. Following protests it was granted to all
clerical workers, but not women! Further protests followed and the payment to women was made.
In 1919, after a period of considerable industrial activity in the UK and the momentous events that
had taken place in Russia, the RCA threatened industrial action if its claim for improvements in pay
and conditions were not met. A strike was called but when the companies conceded it was called
off and branches were advised by telegram. Not all received it in time and a number of branches
took industrial action. Recognition was achieved, and the first national male pay agreement was
reached. However, there was still much more to do.
TIMELINE 1897-1919
1897 The National Association of General Railway Clerks is established at Sheffield.
1898 The National Association of General Railway Clerks opens a Benevolent Fund.
1899 The Association is renamed Railway Clerks’ Association (RCA).
1900 The RCA is registered as a trade union. Glasgow is the first branch in Scotland.
1901 The RCA establishes a Scottish Board then, in 1906, a divisional council.
1902 The RCA establishes its first branch in Wales, at Swansea.
1903 The RCA affiliates to the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
1904 The Railway Clerk is launched as the Association’s monthly magazine. The Association
takes parliamentary action to safeguard superannuation funds and to achieve greater
accountability.
1906 Following action through the TUC and parliament the RCA obtains amendments in the
Workmen’s Compensation Act to include railway salaried staff.
1907 The RCA is excluded from the first Conciliation Scheme which was designed to negotiate
wages and hours. Although the RCA was bitter that it had been excluded its defects were quickly
revealed and the Association continued to campaign. Following investigative work by RCA
members an enquiry into Railway Superannuation Funds by the Board of Trade takes place.
1908 RCA member, George Cutting, helps to form the London Railway Clerks’ Co-operative
Society and is elected as its Secretary.
1909 The RCA sends delegates to the Scottish TUC - the first union of “black-coated workers” to
do so.
1910 The South Wales and Monmouthshire Divisional Council is
established
1911 The Railway Telegraph Clerks’ Association (established in 1897)
joins the RCA. The RCA campaigns for, and wins, additional pay for
Sunday work.
A.G. Walkden
1912 The RCA purchases shares in the TUC’s newspaper the Daily
Citizen. The Association develops a Railway Offices Bill to improve health
and safety in the workplace.
1915 The RCA opens its head office in Euston Road, London.
1916 The RCA holds its first annual conference in Wales.
1917 The RCA holds its first national conference for railway agents and stationmasters.
1918 The first conference of Scottish branches is held and a Scottish Advisory Committee
established. C.N. Gallie is elected to the Scottish TUC General Council.
1918 16,826 members and fourteen staff of the RCA have served in the armed forces; at least
1,457 lost their lives. Two members of the RCA, Lance Corporal J.A. Christie and Lance Corporal
Charles Graham Robertson, are awarded the Victoria Cross.
1919 The RCA is recognised by the railway companies. The first national male pay agreement is
reached. The Railway Clerk is renamed The Railway Service Journal. The RCA develops a
National Transport Services Bill embracing nationalisation, co-ordination and trade union control.
The RCA affiliates to the Labour Research Department.
1920-1944
Having obtained recognition the RCA’s membership increased significantly. The Association now
had 478 branches and professional line secretaries were appointed to meet the new challenges.
The RCA President, W.E. Williams, could justifiably boast that the RCA was the “premier union of
its kind in the world”.
By the end of the war the railways had been starved of investment and were now in a semiparalysed state. The RCA, working with the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and
Firemen (ASLEF), developed a Ministry of Transport (Transfer of Railways) Bill which received
support from the Railway Nationalisation Society and the Labour Party. It was presented to
parliament by J.H. Thomas MP, General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR),
but it failed to survive as the Government was planning its own strategy to amalgamate the 123
railway companies into four.
Although a number of members had taken strike action to obtain recognition in 1919, very few
members, outside Ireland, had any experience of a strike. In fact, most members were fearful of
participating in any form of industrial activity. Up to this time the RCA’s position on NUR and
ASLEF strikes had been one of neutrality, but when the miners asked for support in 1925 it was
forthcoming, and the union worked closely with their colleagues in the NUR, ASLEF and the
Transport & General Workers’ Union (TGWU) to make it a success. They agreed that if the miners
were locked out an embargo would be placed on the movement of coal. As a result the
Government backed down and the miners’ strike was cancelled on 31st July 1925 - Red Friday.
The Government licked its wounds and, in conjunction with the mine owners, planned the next
offensive.
In 1926, after the miners refused to accept a cut in pay, the TUC asked its affiliates if they would
support the miners by striking. The RCA said yes, and from the 4th May to the 13th May they cooperated with millions of trade unionists at local and national level. Although not all RCA members
responded to the call, their contribution, particularly their administrative and clerical skills, was
widely praised. 99% of London’s underground staff stopped work and 195 of the Association’s 469
branches had more than 75% of their members on strike - approximately 50,000 members.
When the TUC called off the strike many RCA members were disappointed. The railway
companies were horrified that their administrative employees had taken strike action and they took
their revenge, particularly against the most senior staff. Thousands were victimised and many were
sent home; as a result all three railway unions and the TGWU told their members to continue the
strike. An agreement was reached but it was a bitter pill to swallow and the settlement can be
ranked amongst the most infamous in the history of industrial relations. In reality, the vicious
attitude of the companies against thousands of railway workers was just beginning, and some
cases would not be resolved for many years. As for those that did not strike, their careers were
assured as their record cards were marked “loyal”.
The RCA was largely on the defensive throughout the 1920s and 1930s and the Government also
attacked trade unionism through its Trade Disputes and Trade Unions Act (1927). The companies
introduced pay cuts and in an environment of unemployment many railway workers considered
that they were lucky to have a job.
When war was declared in 1939 the railways were, once again, brought under state control. The
Antwerp, Jersey and Guernsey branches were closed when the Germans invaded and members
assisted the transfer of refugees to England when the Channel Islands were occupied. Several
RCA members escaped but three were caught and sent to a concentration camp in Germany.
The onset of war did not stop the Association from carrying out its normal trade union activities and
membership increased dramatically. By 1945 there were 89,409 members, exceeding the previous
record set in 1920. Many were recruited from companies related to the railways but who had, up to
1939, been refused recognition; times were changing both politically and industrially. Indeed, one
of the biggest campaigns won by the RCA was recognition for those in the Professional and
Technical Grades that had been excluded from the 1919 Agreement.
When delegates met for the 1944 Conference they were determined that the sacrifices made by
railway workers would not be in vain. They formulated proposals for the nationalisation of all public
transport, with provision for employees to be on management boards. It was a policy that had been
developed and refined for many years but most important of all was their determination that there
should be no return to the past. Millions of people throughout the nation shared the same view.
TIMELINE 1920-1944
1920 A.G. Walkden proposes that a National Federation of Professional Workers be established
and the RCA becomes an affiliate. A Machinery of Consultation is established. The Scottish office
is opened. The RCA invests £1000 in the Daily Herald.
1921 Following the Transport Act (1921) over 123 companies are merged into four. A new
machinery of consultation is introduced. A.G. Walkden is elected to the TUC General Council.
George Lathan is elected as President of the National Federation of Professional Workers.
C.N. Gallie is elected as Chairman of the Scottish TUC. The RCA introduces a bill for railway
nationalisation.
1926 The RCA participates in the General Strike. The RCA helps to defeat two very
unsatisfactory Superannuation Bills promoted by the London North Eastern and Southern Railway
Companies.
1928 The RCA persuades the government to set up an enquiry into road transport.
1930
C.N. Gallie is, once again, elected Chairman of the Scottish TUC.
1932
A.G. Walkden is elected TUC Chairman.
1936 W. Stott is elected to the TUC General Council.
1939 Recognition won at D. MacBrayne Ltd.
1940 C.N. Gallie is elected to the TUC General Council. G.M.H. Morris is elected to the Scottish
TUC General Council.
1941 D. Robertson is elected to the Scottish TUC General Council.
1943 The National Joint Committee of Railway Unions is formed. Recognition obtained at T. Cook
Ltd.
1944 The RCA wins recognition for Professional and Technical Grade members.
1947 P.T. Heady is Treasurer of the National Federation of Professional Workers, a post that is
retained by Association members for many years. D. Robertson is Chairman of the Scottish TUC.
1945 - 1978
Members of the RCA greeted the end of the second world war and the election of a Labour
Government with joy. Labour’s majority enabled it to embark on the greatest social, political and
industrial change members had ever experienced. Although the private sector continued to
dominate the economy, the Bank of England, coal mining, electricity, gas, civil aviation and
telecommunications were nationalised. The vindictive Trades Disputes Act of 1927 was repealed
and the Government, even though the country was suffering
financially, established the welfare state. The National Health
Service came into being and a new financial arrangement was
introduced for unemployment, sickness, maternity, widows’ benefits
and death grants - it was a social revolution!
On 19th November 1945 Herbert Morrison told the House of
Commons that it was the Government’s intention “to introduce
during the life of the present Parliament, measures designed to
bring transport services, essential to the economic well-being of the
nation, under public ownership and control.” This was opposed by
the railway companies and road hauliers but they failed. In fact,
large sections of the railway industry were close to bankruptcy, and
many considered that the compensation they received was
excessive. On 1st January 1948 the Transport Act (1947) became
operative and a new era for railway workers began.
Much of the railway’s administration was similar to that proposed by
the RCA in 1946 but one important ingredient was missing - the democratic participation of
employees on management boards. Instead, preference was given to Conservatives and the
occasional trade unionist. It was a political decision that reflected the views of some in the Cabinet
who considered working people incapable of managing large companies. The RCA expressed its
disappointment but some appointments were welcomed. The former NUR General Secretary, John
Benstead, was appointed to the British Transport Commission (BTC) and the former General
Secretary of ASLEF joined the Railways Executive. RCA member, William Beckett, became a parttime director of the Road Transport Executive and his colleague Aubrey Ping, a part-time director
of British European Airways. Harold Clay, Assistant General Secretary TGWU, joined the Road
Transport Executive and another TGWU member, John Donovan, joined the Inland Waterways
Executive.
The Association celebrated its Golden Jubilee throughout 1947 with events in many branches,
including Antwerp. Over 3,500 people, including the Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, and many
members from the Association’s early years, turned up for the national celebration at the Royal
Albert Hall on 24th October.
When a Conservative Government returned in 1951 it dismantled or undermined all that had been
done to integrate and co-ordinate transport. The BTC was eliminated in 1963 and the BRB became
operational. During Dr. Beeching’s tenure as its Chairman there were massive cuts to the railway
network, its related industries and staff. Although these were resisted by trade unionists and many
communities, they largely failed. Motorways and profits for private road hauliers were seen as the
future for transport.
Labour’s return to power in 1964 brought a new sense of hope and much was achieved, but its
prices and incomes policy eventually alienated many TSSA members as did its policies contained
In Place of Strife. When the Transport Minister, Barbara Castle, presented her Transport Bill to
parliament in 1967 it was the largest since 1945. It received a mixed response from the TSSA, not
least as it made no provision for worker participation at all levels.
When the Conservative Government’s Industrial Relations Act became operative in 1971 the
TSSA, NUR and ASLEF were set on a joint collision course with the Government for the first time
since 1926. After failing to achieve a pay agreement a work to rule began on 17th April which
brought the Association into conflict with the newly established Industrial Relations Court.
Following a ballot of members in all three railway unions the result was a devastating setback for
the Government. A pay settlement was agreed and the joint action of the three railway unions
ensured that the Government never again used cooling-off periods and compulsory ballots as a
political weapon.
Walkden House
After the Conservative Minister of Transport, John Peyton, said that he
did not support publicly owned industries, policies were introduced to
undermine the state sector. The travel company, Thomas Cook, was
sold and, although the Labour Party promised to return it to the public
sector when it gained office, this failed to take place and the
Association recorded its disappointment. Much worse was to come.
TIMELINE 1945-1978
1945 22,306 RCA members (25% of the membership) have served
in the armed forces.
1947 The RCA celebrates its Golden Jubilee; Percy Heady is a
member of the Labour Party’s NEC, David Robertson is Chairman of
the Scottish TUC, John Ross is Chairman of the Labour Party Scottish
Council, Frederick Bostock is on the TUC General Council, Alderman
Martin O’Sullivan is on the Administrative Council of the Irish Labour
Party and Senator John T. O’Farrell is Treasurer of the Irish TUC.
George Perkins is the first RCA member to be elected as President of the Co-operative Congress;
he is succeeded as President by colleagues A. J. Tapping in 1948 and Thomas Gill in 1949. Three
members of the RCA hold government positions.
1947 Representations made to government ministers to obtain assurances that a negotiating
machinery, superannuation, compensation for loss of employment and other matters of interest to
members were satisfactorily dealt with under the 1946 Transport Bill.
1948 The railways and many sectors of public transport are nationalised. RCA member, Aubrey
Ping, is appointed as a part-time director at British European Airways; William Beckett is appointed
on the Road Transport Executive. G.B. Thorneycroft is elected to the TUC General Council. J.G.
Bothwell is elected to the Scottish TUC General Council.
1950 T.H. Gill JP is appointed Knight. T.W. Burden is appointed Baron Burden of Hazlebarrow.
1951 The RCA becomes the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association
(TSSA) and the Railway Service Journal becomes the TSSA Journal.
1952
The TSSA achieves its highest number of members - 91,514.
1953 W.J. P. Webber is elected to the TUC General Council. J.G.
Bothwell is Chairman of the Scottish TUC.
1956 George Mathers, becomes the first trade unionist to be made a
Knight of the Thistle, the highest order of chivalry in Scotland.
1958 The Association’s head office, Walkden House, is opened.
1960 The Association condemns apartheid.
1963 The TSSA campaigns against Dr. Beeching’s The Reshaping of
British Railways. J.G. Bothwell is elected to the TUC General Council.
1967 TSSA contributions can be deducted from the employers’ paybill.
1968 The Labour Party implements its Transport Act. A.P. Coldrick is
elected to the TUC General Council.
1969 The TSSA opposes the Labour Government’s In Place of Strife.
The NFC begins operations.
1970 BR and London Transport introduce the “Closed Shop” for most employees.
1971 The TSSA opposes the Industrial Relations Act and the European Economic Community.
1972 Thomas Cook is sold to the private sector.
1973 £1000 is donated to the Miners’ Industrial Action
Fund.
1979-2014
The election of a Labour Government from 1974-1979 led
to legislation that would improve health and safety in the
workplace. In 1977 regulations came into force that
enabled a recognised trade union to appoint health and
safety representatives from the employees it represented.
There was now a legal right to investigate potential
hazards, to examine the causes of accidents, and to
make representations to the employer. Two or more
safety representatives could request their employer to
establish a safety committee, with time off being allowed for representatives to carry out their
duties. It was a major advance and the Association immediately set about equipping its members
with the training required to meet the new challenges.
However, a reversal of the progressive changes introduced by Labour in 1945 took place after the
election of the Conservative Party in 1979; it would impact heavily on many who worked in the
state sector. Anti-trade union legislation was introduced, the closed shop banned, and privatisation
on a massive scale took place. The National Freight Corporation (NFC), the railway-owned hotels,
the ferry company Sealink, the docks, railway workshops, British Transport Advertising, Gold Star
Holidays, the catering company Travellers Fare, and the railway laundries were all sold at prices
many felt were below their true value. The bus industry was deregulated, broken into small units
and sold. Other publicly owned industries and their subsidiaries suffered the same fate.
When miners took industrial action in 1984 opinions within the TSSA were sharply divided. The
miners’ leadership had few friends in the Association’s Executive Committee (EC) but its view was
also influenced by the reaction of some members after it had donated £1000 to the NUM Action
Fund in 1973. Following letters of complaint and threats of resignation the EC feared a similar
response and adopted a neutral position. The columns of the Association’s Journal were largely
silent during one of the most momentous strikes in history but many members took collections at
their place of work and joined local Miners’ Support Groups. At the Association’s 1984 Conference,
following a heated debate, the delegates declined to make a donation to the miners’ strike fund but
following an appeal from the Scottish TUC, the EC agreed to donate £1000 for food parcels. In
1992, when the Government declared it would close 31 of the Coal Board’s remaining 50 pits, an
explosion of anger swept through the TSSA and the nation. The TSSA joined the miners’ march
and lobbied MPs, but it was too late.
Having cast aside their divisive leader, Margaret Thatcher, the Conservatives turned to John Major
who continued the sale of our assets including British Rail (BR) and its subsidiaries. When TSSA
delegates attended their 1996 Conference 58 separate sections of the railway industry had already
been sold and Railtrack, which took control of the railway infrastructure in 1994, was ready to be
floated on the stock exchange. BR was divided into approximately 100 separate companies and
the process of franchising the 25 passenger train operating units to the private sector began. This
was to prove a costly, disastrous mistake.
The TSSA celebrated its centenary in Sheffield, where it was formed. The venue was the
magnificent Cutlers’ Hall and among the many messages of congratulation were those of Lew
Adams, General Secretary ASLEF, Jimmy Knapp, General Secretary RMT, the leader of the
Labour Party, Tony Blair MP and John Monks, TUC General Secretary. Leading trade unionists
also attended from Austria, Germany, Egypt, Spain and Sweden. It was an exciting conference
and members looked back with pride at the Association’s achievements.
Considerable optimism was expressed but a large part of conference dealt with the future shape of
the TSSA. This debate had arisen as a result of considerable change in the railway industry and a
long term trend of membership decline. Action was taken by examining the Association’s
structures, branches, divisional councils, annual conference and the TSS Journal, with the
objective of cutting expenditure. The Association also turned away from being service-led and
became an organising union.
A revolutionary change in the Association’s communications began at the 1999 conference when
delegates agreed to establish a website and to develop electronic mailing lists. Within a few
months a website was launched; in April 2001 it was redesigned by TSSA member David Hillam
and new content was introduced. It was an immediate success with the number of visitors
increasing from 300 a week to 10,000 a month. It also received critical acclaim and was ranked by
‘Sense Internet’ as the seventh best trade union site. Another major change was introduced in
2000 when the TSSA launched its Ethical Investments Charter and encouraged others in the trade
union movement to adopt the same approach. A similar strategy was adopted for its staff pension
fund and the Association also affiliated to FairPensions.
The TSSA continued to protect the interests of its members industrially, lobbied parliament and
participated in all the traditional political and social activities that were of interest to members.
Indeed, it could be argued that the numbers participating in marches and campaigns have been
higher in recent years than ever before. Company branches were significantly increased in 1999
and a new head office was envisaged on the site of Walkden House, but the government’s
decision to introduce a high speed line at Euston disrupted plans. By 2000 hopes were raised as
membership was the highest for nineteen years, but a downturn followed and a Special Delegate
Conference was held in 2009. Something had to be done, and at the 2011 Conference the General
Secretary, Gerry Doherty, told delegates that the TSSA needed to build strategic partnerships with
sister unions, build a stronger union, and involve communities in our fight for an affordable quality
public transport system. It was also accepted that merger talks were a real possibility.
In due course discussions took place with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport
Workers (RMT) with the prospect of a merger, but they failed to come to fruition. This was
disappointing to some who had always seen one union for railway workers as their goal. Others
were relieved and many saw their future with a small union. The EC then held talks with
Community but these, too, came to nothing. However, when Unite approached recently-elected
General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, discussions took place which looked extremely promising, and
these he reported to the Association’s 116th Annual Conference in Glasgow. A lengthy question
and answer session followed and, except for four delegates, it was agreed to progress negotiations
with the objective of a transfer of undertakings.
It was not to be. Following a meeting with Unite at the 2013 TUC the General Secretary told
members that talks had not succeeded in meeting the terms agreed by delegates at the 2013
Annual Conference whereby the TSSA’s significant resources could be targeted on boosting
organisation and growth within the transport section of the proposed merged structure. It was,
however, agreed to explore ways by which co-operation and sharing of resources, short of a
merger, could deliver a better deal for members of both unions.
Changes were clearly required to bring expenditure closer to income and the General Secretary
was tasked by members to launch a root and branch review in order to boost income from all
sources, and to examine the best ways of reducing expenditure. Although a merger has not been
ruled out, the TSSA’s prime objective is to deliver a more focused, leaner union with a structure
that will deliver an excellent service to its members. The 2014 Annual Conference endorsed the
strategic plan outlined by the Executive Committee and every member is well aware that the
Association’s future, is, as always, in their hands.
We can be proud of our historical record and achievements. Since the Association was established
hundreds of thousands of its members have made a remarkable contribution to assist colleagues,
build their union and develop their industry. They have also made a remarkable contribution to the
co-operative movement, the TUC, trades councils, the Labour Party, parliament and society - we
owe them all a great debt of gratitude, but that is not enough. Like our predecessors we have to
face the challenges of our time. That is our responsibility, but whatever we face in the future our
history has truly been ‘A Remarkable Journey’.
TIMELINE 1979-2014
1979 The Conservative Government’s attack on trade unions and public ownership begins.
1981 The NFC is sold to the private sector.
1983 The British Transport Docks Board, BR hotels and laundries are sold. TSSA General
Secretary, C.A. Lyons, reviews the Association’s financial difficulties and changes are made to its
administration; the number of divisional councils are reduced, the EC is cut from 29 to 18 and
branches are encouraged to merge. C.A. Lyons is elected to the TUC General Council.
1984 Sealink’s ships and harbours are sold to British Ferries.
1985 Bus deregulation begins.
1986 The National Bus Company’s subsidiaries are sold. TSSA affiliates to the Confederation of
Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions.
1987 The privatisation of BR Engineering Ltd begins. British Transport Advertising and Travellers
Fare are sold.
1988 The railway unions launch the “Better Rail Campaign”.
1989 Gold Star Holidays is sold.
1990 All forms of closed shops in the UK are illegal following the introduction of the Employment
Act.
1992 The British Railways Board (BRB) withdraws from the 1956 Machinery of Negotiation and a
new machinery is introduced the following year.
1993 The TSSA joins the “Save Our Railways” campaign to stop privatisation. The Railways Act
is approved and the breakup of the railway network begins.
1994 The TSSA annual conference is cut to 28 hours, divisional councils are reorganised and the
EC is reduced to fifteen. InterCity’s onboard catering services are sold. The Channel Tunnel is
completed. (The TSSA had been calling for this since 1917.)
1997 The TSSA celebrates its centenary in Sheffield.
1999 The TSSA website is launched.
2000 The TSSA begins to examine its structures with a view to cutting
expenditure. TSSA launches its Ethical Investments Charter in line with
the principles contained in the International Labour Organisation’s
conventions. R. Rosser is elected to the TUC General Council.
2002 The privately-owned Railtrack Group is liquidated and Network Rail, a ‘not for shareholder
dividend’ company takes over.
2005
G. Doherty is elected to the TUC General Council.
2009 The TSSA holds a special conference to discuss its democratic
structures.
2010 The TSSA launches Together for Transport - Community Organising Team.
2011
TSSA Launches Together for Transport.
2012 The TSSA affiliates to FairPensions. The TUC launches Action for Rail and Better
Rail is launched by railway trade unions.
2013 Merger talks with Unite. Manuel Cortes is elected to the TUC General
Council.
2014 TSSA launches its Strategic Plan.
THE TSSA AND IRELAND
The Association’s first contact with Ireland was in 1898 but nothing developed until 1904 when
General Secretary, John Stopford-Challener, was invited to Belfast, and a branch was opened later
that year. The Londonderry branch followed and, in 1908, Dublin. The following year, Joseph St.
Clair, the Association’s first organiser, did a recruitment tour and by 1910 a divisional council had
been established. In 1915 the RCA held its annual conference in Dublin.
At the 1912 Irish TUC W.E. Hill played a significant part in establishing the Irish Labour Party; at
the same conference Hill made the first call for Irish railways to be nationalised and for railway
employees to have the right to elect representatives to Executive Boards.
The Association opened an office in Dublin during 1917 and J.T. O’Farrell was appointed as Irish
Secretary. A member since 1910, he made a remarkable contribution to the Irish Labour
Movement as President of the Irish TUC and Labour Party, Treasurer of the Irish TUC and
Chairman of the Film Censorship Board; he also served on the CIE Board of Directors and was a
member of Seanad Éireann.
Although George Lathan had addressed a massive demonstration in Dublin during 1915 in support
of the war, nowhere was the introduction of conscription opposed more vehemently than in Ireland.
Alexander Walkden attended a massive anti-conscription conference in 1918, the only General
Secretary of a union with headquarters outside Ireland to do so. A twenty-four hour General Strike
was held on 23rd April 1918 against conscription and RCA member, W.B. McMahon, was elected
Chairman of the Irish Railway Workers’ Emergency Committee. Two other prominent strike
participants were William Davin, who was to have a distinguished record in Dáil Éireann and
Eamon O’Carroll, who became President of Dublin Trades Council. This was the first strike called
by the RCA and a significant number responded even though the RCA did not grant strike pay.
Ireland remained the only unconscripted country in Europe.
During the fight for independence at least three RCA members were killed by British troops, many
were arrested and interned without charge, and the lives of all railway workers were in constant
danger. When elections took place in 1922 the RCA was the only railway union to have members
in Dáil Éireann. Throughout 1922 and 1923 the RCA campaigned for nationalisation of the railways
on both sides of the border and in conjunction with the Irish Labour Party & TUC it prepared a
Transport Bill which was introduced to Dáil Éireann. This was lost, but the RCA received
widespread praise for its work in drafting the bill and later, from the Government, when
amendments were made to the Government’s Transport Bill.
J.T. O’Farrell was the main spokesperson for nationalisation before Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE)
was established, and the RCA played a significant role in Dáil Éireann to protect employees’
interests when the bill was debated. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s the TSSA campaigned
against line closures on both sides of the border but thousands of jobs were lost. By 1983 there
were 22 branches in Ireland and 3,092 members but numbers would steadily decrease. In 1990
the TSSA supported the Programme for Economic and Social Progress and the Programme for
Competitiveness and Work in 1994.
With members on both sides of the border Irish politics were rarely discussed in the TSSA.
However, at the 1995 Conference it was Tony Dermody (CIE Executive Grades) who applauded
the peace process and welcomed the possibilities that existed to break old moulds and to fashion a
new Ireland of peace, progress and prosperity.
TIMELINE
1904 The RCA opens the Belfast branch.
1908 The RCA opens the Dublin branch.
1909 The RCA affiliates to the Irish TUC.
1910 The RCA establishes the Irish Divisional Council and holds its first conference.
1912 The RCA supports the formation of the Irish Labour Party.
1913 W.E. Hill is elected to the Irish TUC’s Parliamentary Committee.
1915 The Association hold its annual conference in Dublin.
1917 The RCA opens its first office in Ireland.
1918 J.T. O’Farrell is elected to the National Executive of the Irish Labour Party & TUC.
1919 E. O’Mahoney is elected to the National Executive of the Irish Labour Party & TUC.
1921 T. Fitzpatrick, Secretary of the West Clare branch, becomes the first RCA member to be
elected to a railway management board.
1922 The first RCA members, D. O’Callaghan and W. Davin, are elected to Dáil Éireann. J.T.
O’Farrell is the first RCA member to be elected to Seanad Éireann.
1923 The RCA works with the Irish Labour Party and TUC to prepare a Transport and
Communications Bill. This fails to be enacted but negotiations take place that lead to the
establishment of a negotiating machinery which is enshrined in law during 1924.
1925 The RCA affiliates to the Workers’ Educational Institute.
1926 J.T. O’Farrell is President of the Irish Labour Party & TUC.
1927 A.J. Cassidy is elected to Dáil Éireann.
1930 M. O’Sullivan is elected to the National Executive of the Irish TUC. W. Davin is elected to
the Irish Labour Party Administrative Council. J.T. O’Farrell is elected to the Irish Labour Party
Administrative Council.
1932 W.P. Greene is elected to the Irish Labour Party Administrative Council.
1935 W.P. Greene is elected to the National Executive of the Irish TUC.
1940 W. Davin, joins the Irish Government’s All Party Committee of Defence.
1942 M. O’Sullivan, is elected as Labour’s first Lord Mayor for Dublin and to the Irish Labour
Party Administrative Council.
1943 M. O’Sullivan, is elected to Dáil Éireann.
1945 Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE) is established. J. Deasy is elected to Dublin Council at the age
of 22, the youngest member of a local authority in Ireland.
1948 The RCA is a founder member of the People’s College and D. Murphy, is elected to its
Central Council.
1949 M. O’Sullivan, is elected as Leader of the Irish Labour Party to be followed by W. Davin.
D.F. Murphy is elected to the National Executive of the Irish TUC.
1950 CIE is nationalised. Retired RCA Irish Secretary, J.T. O’Farrell, joins its Board.
1954 W. Davin is appointed as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Irish Government. S. Casey is
elected to Dáil Éireann. The first Irish Biennial Conference is held. D.F. Murphy elected to Seanad
Éireann. S. Casey is elected to the Irish Labour Party Administrative Council.
1955 S. Casey is elected to the National Executive of the Irish TUC.
1956 S. Casey, becomes Lord Mayor of Cork.
1959 T.B. Herlihy is elected to the Irish Labour Party Administrative Council.
1962 D.F. Murphy is elected to the Irish Labour Party Administrative Council.
1964 D.F. Murphy is elected as President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
1965 S. Casey is appointed Shadow Minister for Transport and Power.
1970 J. Ryan is elected to the Irish Labour Party Administrative Council.
1973 J. Ryan is elected to Dáil Éireann.
1976 CIE introduces the “Closed Shop”.
1978 D. Casey is elected to the National Executive of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
1980 J. McLoughlin is the first Association member to be elected as a CIE Worker Director.
1981 J. Ryan elected to Council of Europe.
1989 S. Ryan is elected to Dáil Éireann. J. Ryan is elected to Seanad Éireann.
1992 S. Kenny is elected to Dáil Éireann and to the Irish Labour Party Administrative Council.
N. Ahern (Fianna Fáil - not sponsored by the TSSA) is elected to Dáil Éireann.
2004 The TSSA’s annual conference is held in Belfast.
2010 The TSSA’s annual conference is held in Dublin.
THE TSSA AND POLITICS
During its early years the Association frequently voiced its non-political position but this really
meant that most members had no desire to move from conventional politics to what they saw as
the radical alternatives of the Independent Labour Party and the Social Democratic Federation.
The members were, however, willing to work with the Conservatives and Liberals to enact
legislation or block bills that were against the interests of the Association.
Charles Hobson, who was invited to chair the Association’s first meeting in 1897, was a prominent
member of the Independent Labour Party but most of the Association’s members were almost
certainly Liberal supporters; its first President was Alderman J. Batty Langley MP, a National
Liberal; the third was a Conservative, Sir Fortescue Flannery MP, who suggested that vicepresidents be appointed. Flannery then recruited prominent Conservatives, National Liberals and
Unionists, all of whom were relatively progressive on social matters and of assistance to the
Association. One of these was the Conservative and Imperialist, Sir Joseph Lawrence, owner of
the Railway Herald which was invaluable in getting the Association established. Flannery also
approached a number of railway directors but they declined his offer. After 1904 the practice was
discontinued.
In 1902 the EC proposed affiliation to the Labour Representation Committee (LRC) but, fearful that
it would divide the union, the subject was deferred on the advice of the General Secretary, John
Stopford-Challenor, who was supported by Alexander Walkden. Walkden became a Liberal
Councillor the following year but the General Secretary joined Labour. When affiliation was
discussed at the 1904 Conference some delegates voiced concern at the prospect of Labour
extremism but although it was supported, members rejected it in a ballot. Another prominent
Liberal, William West JP, was a senior figure in the Liberal Party, became Mayor of Battersea, was
Acting RCA General Secretary, and became the first editor of the Railway Clerk. He was also the
Association’s Parliamentary Secretary, an extremely important
position. West remained a Liberal but by 1905 Walkden had turned to
Labour. In 1907 the RCA decided not to seek representation in
R. J. Gunter MP
parliament but to commission an MP to act on its behalf. George
Wardle MP, who was editor of the Associated Society of Railway
Servants’ paper, The Railway Review, was chosen and became
known as the railway clerks’ MP.
Impatient at the pace of change a small number of members formed the Socialist Fellowship in
1908 with the objection of achieving affiliation to the Labour Party. Its leader, George Ridley, went
on to play a significant part in the RCA and the Labour Party, being its Chairman in 1944 when he
died.
The 1909 Conference again supported affiliation and this time members agreed. A Parliamentary
Fund was opened and in 1910 the RCA affiliated 9,000 members to the Labour Party; the only
other “black-coated” unions that had affiliated were the National Union of Clerks (2,350 affiliates)
and the Postal Telegraph Clerk’s Association (10,000 affiliates). The
Association’s commitment to Labour was now total and at the 1912
Conference the guest of honour was the Secretary of the Labour
Party, J. Ramsay MacDonald MP. As for the Socialist Fellowship, this
continued as the TSSA’s oldest fringe meeting at annual conference,
embracing all shades of socialist opinion.
Although most of the RCA’s membership now supported the Labour
Party very few called themselves socialists. However, railway
nationalisation was agreed to in 1910 but this was largely a defensive
measure against the growth of combines. Repeated attempts to get
the RCA to support a motion “That the means of production and
distribution of wealth be owned and controlled by the people, and
worked in the common interest of all the workers” were frequently
rejected for debate by the President; on one occasion he declared that
it had no direct relationship to conference business. However, in 1914
the political mood had changed and it was a former Liberal who successfully proposed a motion
calling for the public ownership of the land, mines, railways and other monopolies as a necessary
step towards securing a general advance in real wages and other improved conditions of life. In
1913, when the Trade Union Act was approved, a ballot showed that of the 65.7% of members that
had participated, 91.3% favoured retaining a political fund; of the 96 unions that held a ballot, only
two had a better result.
When Walkden became General Secretary he also took on the duties of Parliamentary Secretary.
He also sought to become an MP and was adopted as a prospective candidate. The war
intervened and by 1918 the world was vastly different. In the meantime, many members became
Labour councillors.
At the 1918 General Election six members stood for the Labour Party but none were elected and it
was a Conservative unsponsored member, Major Patrick Malone, who became the first RCA
member to enter parliament. Walkden was defeated at a by-election in 1922 as were all eight
candidates in the 1922 General Election. Then, in 1923, Herbert J. Romeril, a former RCA
President, took his seat in the House of Commons. A.E. Townend followed in 1925.
By 1926 98.2% of our members contributed to the Political Fund; after the 1927 Trade Disputes
Act was introduced forcing members to “contract in”, its record was the best of the transport unions
and ranked amongst the finest in the trade union movement.
At the 1929 General Election the RCA put forward eight sponsored candidates, a number only
exceeded by three other unions. All were elected but lost their seats in 1931. Six members were
elected to the House of Commons in 1935 and only the miners and TGWU had more MPs than the
RCA. During the 1939-1945 war Frederick Watkins was appointed as Private Secretary to Herbert
Morrison and George Ridley was Private Secretary to Arthur Greenwood. Alexander Walkden was
elected to the Administrative Committee of the Parliamentary Party and joined the front bench.
In 1945 dozens of members were elected to all levels of local Government and fifteen went to the
Commons. Only the National Union of Miners (NUM), NUR, the General and Municipal Workers
and the TGWU, had more MPs than the RCA. At the 1950 General Election seven were returned;
Thomas Steele lost his seat but he won a by-election in 1951. At the 1951 election only Ray
Gunter lost his seat.
The Association had now passed its parliamentary peak; it continued to be represented with
distinction but not without controversy. Ray Gunter was returned to parliament in 1959 and when
the Labour Party was elected in 1964 he became Minister for Labour, a post he described as “a
bed of nails”. Gunter resigned from the Wilson Government in 1968, from the Parliamentary
Labour Party in 1972, and applied for the Chiltern Hundreds. Tom Bradley, a former President of
the TSSA and Chairman of the Labour Party in 1975, joined the Social Democratic Party at its
launch in 1981; he was decisively defeated in the 1983 General Election. With no representation
now in parliament, the TSSA reverted to the policy it last used in 1907 and asked two Labour MPs
to look after its interests.
In 1984 the Conservative Government introduced its Trade Union Act which meant that the TSSA
was obliged to ballot its members every ten years to keep its Political Fund. In 1994 69.6% were in
favour and in 1994 88%. It has continued to reaffirm its high political commitment ever since.
When Lawrie Quinn was elected for Scarborough and Whitby he was the first TSSA member, who
was not already an MP, to secure election since 1970. This was owing to a number of factors, not
least that the number of nominations for the Parliamentary Panel had declined. Quinn lost his seat
in 2005 but the TSSA has not lost its presence in parliament. Julie Hilling, formerly a Senior
Regional TSSA Organiser, was elected for Bolton West in 2010 and Richard Rosser, who had the
distinction of serving as the Association’s General Secretary for fifteen years, a record second only
to that of Alexander Walkden, entered the House of Lords in 2010. Harriet
Yeo, who was TSSA President from 2011-2013, became Chair of the
Labour Party in 2012.
The TSSA welcomed the election of a Labour Government in 1997; hopes
were high and some were fulfilled. However, although Labour’s manifesto
had declared its position of retaining the Conservative Party’s anti-union
legislation, several unions, including the TSSA, made repeated calls for
Labour to have them removed from the statute book. This failed to take
place and in 2010 branches were encouraged to affiliate to the United
Campaign to Repeal the Anti Trade Union Laws.
TIMELINE
1907 The RCA appoints G.J. Wardle MP to act on its behalf in parliament.
1908 Members of the RCA establish The Socialist Fellowship to
encourage affiliation to the
Labour Party.
1910 The RCA affiliates to the Labour Party, establishes its
Parliamentary Fund, and calls for the nationalisation of the railways.
1914 The RCA calls for the nationalisation of the railways, mines and
other means of production, distribution and exchange.
1917 The RCA establishes its London Political Advisory Committee
and calls for the building of a Channel Tunnel.
1918 The RCA develops a National Transport Bill, contests its first parliamentary seats but it is a
Conservative that is elected to the House of Commons. 99.9% of RCA members are contributing
to the Political Fund. A Scottish Political Advisory Committee is established. At the annual
conference of the Scottish Labour Party the RCA successfully proposes Home Rule for Scotland.
1923 H. Romeril is the first Labour RCA member to be elected to the House of Commons.
1924 C.N. Gallie is elected to the Executive Committee of the Labour Party Scottish Council.
1925 A.E. Townend is elected to the House of Commons. G. Lathan is elected to the National
Executive of the Labour Party. J.H. Ritchie is elected to the Executive Committee of the Labour
Party Scottish Council.
1928 J.H. Ritchie is Labour Party Scottish Council Chairman.
1929 The RCA establishes the Manchester and District Political Advisory Council.
T.H. Gill, A.E. Townend, A.W. Longbottom, A.G. Walkden, G. Lathan, G. Mathers, H.G. Romeril
F.C. Watkins are elected to the House of Commons.
1931 G. Lathan is the first RCA member to be Chairman of the Labour Party. He was also a
Council member of the International Confederation of Intellectual Workers and the International
Labour Organisation Advisory Committee.
1932 W. Muter is elected to the Executive Committee of the Labour Party Scottish Council.
1934 The RCA has 72 local councillors.
1935 A.G. Walkden, G. Lathan, G. Mathers, F.C. Watkins, F.B. Simpson are elected to the House
of Commons. G. Lathan is a delegate to the World Anti-Nazi Council. J. McInness is elected to the
Executive Committee of the Labour Party Scottish Council.
1936 A.E. Townend is elected to the House of Commons. G. Ridley is elected to the National
Executive of the Labour Party.
1937 J. McInness is Labour Party Scottish Council Chairman.
1938 J.G. Forsyth is elected to the Executive Committee of the Labour Party Scottish Council.
1939 J.M. Ross is elected to the Executive Committee of the Labour Party Scottish Council.
1942 The RCA establishes the Glasgow Political Advisory Committee.
1943 G. Ridley is Labour Party Chairman. R.A. Raffan is elected to the Executive Committee of
the Labour Party Scottish Council.
1944 F.W. Dalley is elected to the National Executive of the Labour Party.
1945 C.C. Poole, T.W. Burden, R.J. Gunter, G. Mathers, G. Lindgren, A.E. Davies, J.A. Sparks,
F. Anderson, J. Haworth, P. Morris, T. Steele, J.W. Belcher, C. Barton H. Hynd, G.H.R. Rogers are
elected to the House of Commons. A.G. Walkden is the first Association member to be appointed
to the House of Lords. P.T. Heady is elected to the National Executive of the Labour Party. The
RCA establishes the Merseyside Political Advisory Committe.
1946 J. Ross is Labour Party Scottish Council Chairman.
1947 R.A. Raffan is Labour Party Scottish Council Chairman.
1948 J.R. Davies Jones, is the first Labour Deputy to be elected to the Guernsey Parliament. W.
Neish is elected to the Executive Committee of the Labour Party Scottish Council.
1949 W.J.P. Webber is elected to the National Executive of the Labour Party.
1950 C.C. Poole, R.J. Gunter, G. Lindgren, A.E. Davies, J.A. Sparks, F. Anderson, G. Mathers,
P. Morris, A. Hargreaves, H. Hynd, G.H.R. Rogers are elected to the House of Commons.
1951 C.C. Poole, G. Lindgren, A.E. Davies, J.A. Sparks, F. Anderson, G. Mathers, P. Morris, A.
Hargreaves, H. Hynd, G.H.R. Rogers are elected to the House of Commons.
G. Mathers goes to the House of Lords. T. Steele is returned to the Commons in a by-election.
1953 J. Haworth is elected to the National Executive of the Labour Party.
1954 S. Leitch is elected to the Executive Committee of the Labour Party Scottish Council.
1955 G. Lindgren JP, T. Steele, J.A. Sparks, F. Anderson, P. Morris JP, H. Hynd JP, G.H.R.
Rogers are elected to the House of Commons. R.J. Gunter is elected to the National Executive of
the Labour Party.
1956 G. Mathers is the first trade unionist to be made a Knight of the Thistle, the highest Order of
Chivalry in Scotland.
1959 R.J. Gunter, H. Hynd JP, T. Steele, C. Mapp JP, G.H.R. Rogers are elected to the House of
Commons.
1962 T. Fulton is elected to the Executive Committee of the Labour Party Scottish Council.
1964 R.J. Gunter, H. Hynd JP, T. Steele, H. Howarth, C. Mapp JP, T.G. Bradley, G.H.R. Rogers
are elected to the House of Commons. Ray Gunter, a former President of the Association,
becomes the first TSSA member to hold Cabinet rank as Minister for Labour. He is also Chairman
of the Labour Party.
1966 T.G. Bradley is elected to the National Executive of the Labour Party.
1970 W.H. Johnson, R.J. Gunter, T.G. Bradley, S. Cohen are elected to the House of Commons.
1974 W.H. Johnson, T.G. Bradley, S. Cohen are elected to the House of Commons.
1975 T. Fulton is Labour Party Scottish Council Chairman.
1977 J. Callaghan is the first prime Minister to address the TSSA conference.
1979 W.H. Johnson, T.G. Bradley, S. Cohen are elected to the House of Commons. J. Hemphill
is elected to the Executive Committee of the Labour Party Scottish Council.
1983 With no TSSA members in parliament the TSSA sponsors two
Labour MPs, Alan Williams and John Home Robertson, to look after its
parliamentary interests.
1988 R. Rosser JP is elected to the National Executive of the Labour
Party.
1997 88% of TSSA members are paying the political levy in Britain,
95.4% in Northern Ireland and 97.4% in the Republic of Ireland. Lawrie
Quinn is elected to parliament. R. Rosser is Labour Party Chairman.
2004 R. Rosser takes his seat in the House of Lords.
2005 H. Yeo is elected to the National Executive of the Labour Party.
2010 J. Hilling is elected to parliament.
2012 H. Yeo is Labour Party Chair.
Richard Rosser
THE TSSA AND TRADE UNION EDUCATION
From its birth the Association recognised the importance of education and in 1901 a series of
classes took place. These, however, dealt with railway oriented subjects designed to assist
members’ career opportunities. A change came after General Secretary, John Stopford-Challener,
attended a conference in 1903 which led to the formation of the Workers’ Educational Association
(WEA). He joined the WEA and in 1904 a circular was sent to branches encouraging members to
participate in its activities. In the same year members were encouraged to take up correspondence
courses with Ruskin College; it was the start of a lengthy, positive, relationship. By 1909 several
branches had affiliated to the WEA and in 1913 one branch held a lecture on industrial history.
The Association was first represented on the WEA’s National Council in 1915 and in 1921, when
the National Council of Labour Colleges (NCLC) was established, a number of RCA members
became tutors. The NCLCs emphasis on class politics and Marxism did not endear it to the
Association’s EC and ideological differences became a matter of considerable debate. When the
EC failed to implement a 1920 Conference decision to support the NCLC by taking up one
scholarship and making an annual financial donation, a number of branch officers resigned from
their positions. In 1922, the RCA affiliated to the WEA’s Trade Union Committee whose politics
were more in tune with the Association. An education fund was established and the first WEA TUC
weekend school was held in 1923 at Culcheth Hall, near Warrington; the subject being “The
industrial problem after 1815 and 1918”.
In 1924, after much heated debate, the RCA rescinded its 1920 decision to affiliate to the NCLC
but many members continued to give it support and some were tutors. In 1935 political opinion
changed again, and the RCA affiliated to the NCLC. From now on members participated in many
WEA and NCLC schools at local, national and international level, and attended courses at Ruskin
College. RCA divisional council day and weekend schools became the norm, some of which were
for women only. They all formed a vital link in developing a socialist and trade union culture that
was invaluable to the Association’s development.
A decision of the Irish Labour Party and TUC in 1925 led to the establishment of the Workers’
Educational Institute, and one of the first unions to affiliate was the RCA. The Association was a
founder member of the People’s College when it was established in 1948 and the Irish Secretary,
Dominick Murphy, was elected to its Council.
In 2000 the TSSA was involved with ASLEF, RMT and AMICUS in developing the Rail Learning
Fund. A revised Rail Union Learning Programme with dedicated staff was set up in 2006 in
conjunction with ASLEF and the RMT. Since 2008 a stand-alone TSSA initiative “TSSA Learning”,
with a much tighter focus on organising, was established with support from the Union Learning
Fund. Over this period TSSA has had 307 Union Learning Representatives in post from 51
companies across the UK and Ireland – 122 women and 184 men. Up to July 2013 TSSA had
negotiated formal Learning Agreements with 31 companies.
TIMELINE
1901 The RCA organises its first series of education classes.
1903 The RCA is represented by its General Secretary, John Stopford-Challener, at a conference
organised by the University Extension Movement leading to the formation of the WEA.
1904 The RCA President offers a gold medal to the writer of the best paper on “Technical
Education of Railway Clerks” - the winner was A.G. Walkden. The RCA encourages its members
to take up correspondence courses offered by Ruskin College.
1913 The London Clearing House branch is the first to hold a WEA course.
1915 Following affiliation by a number of branches the RCA affiliates to the WEA. Herbert
Romeril is the first of many members to represent the Association on its National Council.
1921 E. Orman is the first member of the RCA to sit on the WEA TUC’s Women’s Management
Committee.
1922 RCA establishes an education fund.
1923 The RCA attends its first WEA TUC school.
1925 The Workers’ Educational Institute is established in Ireland and one of the first unions to
affiliate was the RCA.
1935 The RCA affiliates to the NCLC. Divisional council weekend schools and women’s schools
have become the norm. Many members participate in international schools through the NCLC and
WEA TUC.
1936 The “Walkden Library” is opened at Ruskin College.
1938 Seven RCA members attend the NCLC international summer school in Holland.
1948 The RCA holds its first summer school at Beatrice Webb House. The RCA is a founder
member of the Irish People’s College and D. Murphy sits on its Council.
2000 The TSSA is involved with ASLEF, RMT and AMICUS in the Rail Learning
Fund.
2008 The TSSA introduces “TSSA Learning”.
THE TSSA: SPORT, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE
The Association’s members have had a long history of enjoying themselves but the pinnacle has
always been annual conference where dinners, dances, concerts and the Socialist Fellowship
were held. One of the earliest local events took place in 1900 at The Talbot, London Wall, where
London members held their first dinner. The following year a members’ concert took place at
Nottingham in aid of the Association’s new Benevolent Fund; this was also attended by the
President and many vice-presidents, with the guest of honour being the Duke of Portland KG.
Other events began to take place and over the years rambles, smoking concerts, whist drives,
dances, picnics, football and cricket matches, debates, lectures and excursions became a regular
part of branch life. From the 1920s onwards it was not unusual for branches to hold social events
to raise money for parliamentary candidates.
Women members set up a hockey club in 1917 and played in the Association’s colours of blue and
gold. Largely through the Sheffield branch the historic post house ‘The Angel’ was purchased with
sport and leisure facilities being provided. In 1924 the Dublin branch opened a similar building.
After the first world war RCA member, Maurice Bunyan, took football teams to the continent and
when the British Workers’ Sports Federation (BWSF) was formed his branch (Euston) was the first
railway trade union branch to affiliate. In 1924 Bunyan was asked to select and manage a football
tour to Germany and six of the players came from the RCA. Other tours followed but the sharp
political differences between the Labour and Communist Parties now emerged in sporting circles
and the RCA was involved. The TUC and the BWSF attempted to get communists banned from
membership but this failed and the TUC left. Despite this, the BWSF flourished and although it was
a member of the Lucerne Sports International, it also joined the Red Sports International.
Bunyan represented the Labour Party at the Lucerne Sports International and was instrumental in
persuading the Labour Party to establish a London Sports Association in 1928 which led to the
TUC and Labour Party setting up the British Workers’ Sports Association (BWSA) in 1930.
Some RCA divisional councils set up their own sports groups and when Bunyan retired his sporting
interests were taken up by Charles Gunn, a member of the Clearing House branch. Gunn became
BWSA Athletics Secretary and Joint National Secretary in 1937. Another RCA member, H.F.
Oakley, was the Swimming Secretary. A.G. Walkden became a vice-president of the BWSA and
Stewart Purkis sat on its EC. Special BWSA ties in the Association’s colours were produced and
worn by many members.
A new sports international, to which the Association was affiliated, was formed in 1947, but as it
refused to ban communists the RCA withdrew following pressure from the Labour Party and TUC.
By 1951 the Association was amongst the longest serving of the 20 BWSA affiliated unions. An
attempt to form a non-communist international body failed and in 1954 the BWSA re-affiliated to
the International Workers’ Sports Committee. In 1960, after further funding was denied by the
Labour Party and TUC, the BWSA was dissolved.
Association members had also been making their mark in trade union youth committees. In 1938
the Scottish TUC Advisory Council was established and David Mitchell became the first RCA
member to be elected to its committee; others followed including Margaret Cairncross, who
became the first elected President of the Scottish TUC Youth Advisory Council in 1946. In the
same year the Association held its first national Youth Conference.
Organised sports activities returned in the 1970s largely through the staff at Walkden House and a
lively London Transport Young Members’ Group. Unfortunately, by the 1980s an All London Social
Committee, which had held an event every year since 1912, found that their popularity had waned,
and dances were discontinued. Not all was lost and following the
success of the 2002 summer school for TSSA members under 35
years, Future@TSSA (now future TSSA) was established. This
proved to be a lively group with its members financing a range of
activities including weekend schools, by working for the Workers’
Beer Company.
TIMELINE
1900 London RCA members hold their first annual dinner in The Talbot, London Wall.
1901 The RCA holds its first concert in aid of its Benevolent Fund. The Duke of Portland KG
attends as does the RCA President Sir Fortescue Flannery Bart. JP MP and many of the
Association’s Vice-Presidents - Lord Avebury, Sir F.G. Milner MP, Sir J. Stirling Maxwell MP, Sir
John Leng MP, J. Walton MP, F.A. Channing MP, Sir E. Flower MP, E. Gray MP, J.H. Yoxall MP,
E. Robertson MP, R. Barron MP, C.E. Schwann MP, Sir Joseph Lawrence MP, T. Wintringham.
1912 The All London Social Committee holds its first event.
1923 An RCA Inter-Railways London Nightworkers’ Football League is established. The RCA
plays the NUR at football which the RCA wins by four goals to two. Glasgow branches form a male
choir.
1924 An RCA Inter-Railways London Nightworkers’ Cricket League is established.
RCA member, Maurice Bunyan, selects and manages a railway workers’ football tour to Germany;
others follow. The Dublin branch opens a club providing a library and reading room.
1925 The Scottish Western Divisional Council starts a golf club.
1927 M. Bunyan makes a radio broadcast for the BBC on football and peace.
1929 M. Bunyan represents the Labour Party Sports Association at the fifth biennial congress of
the Lucerne Sports International.
1935 The RCA affiliates to the British Workers’ Sports Association.
1937 C.E. Gunn, is the British Workers’ Sports Association Athletics Secretary and the Joint
National Secretary. A.G. Walkden is a vice-president and S. Purkis is the first EC member to
represent the Association on its EC.
1938 The Scottish TUC Advisory Council is established and D. Mitchell is the first RCA member
to be elected to its committee.
1946 RCA member, M. Cairncross, becomes the first elected President of the Scottish TUC
Youth Advisory Council. The first national RCA Youth Conference is held at Leeds.
1954 W. Guy, is Chairman of the Scottish Youth Advisory Council.
1967 J. Connolly, conceives the idea of the Irish Community Games and was its first secretary.
2002 Future@TSSA (now futuretssa) is established.
THE TSSA AND EQUALITY
From the very early years of the railway industry women were employed in a variety of posts but in
1900, when twelve women were engaged as clerks at King’s Cross, London, it provoked
considerable debate with the RCA. Their salary, lower than that of men, was seen as a threat, but
many also derided the ability of women to meet the clerical standards required. John StopfordChallener considered it unlikely that the “experiment” would succeed, with members agreeing that
although women should be paid “fair and reasonable” wages, the companies would then find the
value of the “lady clerk” prohibitive!
In 1907 the Association finally agreed to recruit women and a Woman’s Column was published in
the Railway Clerk. Some members, including Alexander Walkden, supported women’s suffrage
and their grievances were always taken up with vigour.
The number of women members increased dramatically from 1914 onwards, and a policy of equal
pay was adopted. The following year, by which time the Association had nearly 3,000 women
members, Mary Thompson became the first woman delegate at annual conference. In 1918
women members agreed not to have a dedicated EC seat but when provision was made for grade
representatives they changed their minds; in 1929, after a lengthy campaign, women gained an
allocated seat with Elsie Orman being the first to be elected.
Although the RCA continued to press for equal pay this was repeatedly denied as was an equal
war bonus. A formal women’s agreement only materialised after women rejected the companies
pay and conditions proposals in 1920, resulting in substantial improvements being made.
By 1918 the Association had 13,655 women members. Their number
decreased during the 1920s and 1930s but women took an increasingly active
part in branches and divisional councils, and women’s conferences became
the norm. A national women’s committee was established in 1927 and
divisional councils and branches introduced women’s committees. A Scottish
Advisory Council was established which encouraged women to play an active
part in the Scottish TUC Women’s Advisory Committee and its sister body
within the Labour Party. All of these developments ensured that the RCA was ably represented by
women throughout the trade union movement and Labour Party.
Not everything went smoothly. When Nell Cocker (the first woman to be elected as a branch chair
and seen by Walkden as a “dangerous woman”) discovered that women clerks in Holland had
equal pay, she called for changes to the 1920 Women’s Agreement. The 1935 Conference agreed,
but it was ignored by the EC. At the following conference the EC came in for considerable criticism
with Walkden arguing that a recession was not the best time to press for equal pay. The majority of
the 504 male delegates supported Cocker; it was a remarkable victory! Equal pay was granted in
1942 to one RCA employee, Mary Longhorn, but it did not become accepted practice for many
years. Eventually, in 1956, equal pay was conceded on the railways, but even then some grades
were excluded.
The Association’s policies reflected those of the era. Other than
Longhorn, women employed by the RCA were not appointed to posts
other than as typists, until 1951. Although a bar on married women being
employed within the Association, and the railways, was relaxed during
the second world war, it returned in 1945. This was challenged but many
members supported the “marriage bar” - even after the BTC dropped it in
1950, the subject remained controversial for years.
Ethel Chipchase was the first RCA women to contest a Parliamentary
seat. This was in 1950 at Esher but it was not until Julie Hilling, a Senior
Regional Organiser for the TSSA was elected for Bolton West in 2010,
that a woman member was elected to Parliament. In 1987 Brenda Hanks
became the first woman to be elected as TSSA Treasurer and, in 1993,
its President. In 1997 she presided over the Centenary Conference. In
2005 Harriet Yeo was the first woman TSSA member to join the LP NEC
and was its Chair in 2012. A Labour councillor, in 2011 she also became
President of the TSSA and in 2013 stood on behalf of the Labour Party when seeking election as
the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent.
Reflecting the changes that were taking place within
society two black delegates, P.H. Toms and A.A.
Benjamin, were elected to the 1960 Conference. In
1982 Claude James was the first black member to be
elected to a railway trade union EC and in 1991
Amarjit Singh became the first Asian TSSA member
to be elected as Mayor; the first Asian Mayor in the
history of Newham. In 2005 he became the first Asian
to be elected as TSSA Treasurer.
Other calls for equality were continuing; delegates at the 1982
Conference called for a joint review with the BRB on recruitment,
employment and training and to seek measures to eliminate sex
discrimination if evidence emerged. The following year delegates
expressed concern at the procrastination of LT
management on equal opportunities and called for an
Equal Opportunities Unit to be established in London
Transport.
In 1998 the EC set up a Women’s Group to examine
ways of encouraging female members to become
more active in the union and to address issues they
felt were important to them. This led to the
establishment of Women in Focus (WiF) and a new era of
women’s activities began. At the TSSA’s 2002 conference delegates instructed the EC to review
the training, support and encouragement to groups that were under represented within the
Association. This eventually led to an Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy being introduced and
an upsurge of new groups and activities.
A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Support Group, later named
Spectrum, came into being in 2002. Although the TSSA had elected
delegates to the TUC Black Workers’ Conference for several years it did not
have its own group within the Association. The process of change began in
2003 and during the following year E-Mix was established. An event for
members with disabilities took place in November 2004 which led to the
Disability Working Group being established the following year. The Group
then went on to hold its own highly successful mini conferences at the TSSA’s
annual conference. A young members group, futuretssa, came into being in
2003 and a Retired Members’ Group was established in 2012. These all
became known as Self Organised Groups.
TIMELINE
1907 The RCA agrees to take women into membership.
1908 “Melissa” writes a Woman’s Column in the Railway Clerk.
1910 The RCA recruits its first woman member, C. Greenlees, who is employed at the
Caledonian Telegraph Office.
1912 The RCA has thirty women members.
1915 M. Thompson (Oldham) is the first woman delegate to attend the RCA’s annual conference.
Women are employed at the Association’s head office.
1916 The first RCA National Women’s Conference is held. The Association takes Parliamentary
action to halt the intimidation of women clerks.
1918 The RCA has 13,655 women members. Three RCA women members attend the Labour
Party’s National Conference of Women.
1920 The first national Women and Girl Clerks’ Agreement is agreed.
1925 The RCA is represented by three women at the first TUC Annual Women’s Conference.
1927 The RCA establishes a National Women’s Organising Committee.
1928 E. Orman is the first woman RCA member to be elected to a local council.
1930 E. Orman is the first woman to be elected to the Association’s EC on behalf of Women and
Girl Clerks. M. Warner (Galway) is elected as the first woman delegate to annual conference from
Ireland.
1931 M.E. Thomas (Pontypridd No.1) is elected as the first woman to attend annual conference
from Wales.
1932 I. McKirkle (Glasgow Central) is the first woman member to be appointed JP.
1937 Betty Lamont, chairs the Scottish TUC Organisation of Women Workers.
1939 Betty Lamont is the first woman to represent the Association at the TUC.
1942 For the first time an RCA employee, Mary Longhorn, is appointed to a “male post” and paid
at the “male rate”.
1944 Women and Girl Clerks obtain a second seat on the EC. The RCA sends three women
delegates to the TUC, more than any other union.
1945 M.R. Luntz and Betty Lamont become the first women to represent the Association at the
Labour Party Conference; only the TGWU is represented by more women.
1950 E. Chipchase MBE is the first woman member of the Association to contest a Parliamentary
seat.
1951 I. Leishman is awarded the TUC’s gold medal. The RCA agrees that its women employees
may apply for any post within its administration and that the appointment be made on “merit”.
1956 Equal Pay is achieved on BR.
1960 P.H. Toms and A.A. Benjamin become the first black delegates to attend TSSA Annual
Conference. For the first time guests from African railway trade unions attend the Annual
Conference.
1962 K. Jenkins becomes the first woman to represent a divisional council on the EC.
1973 K. Jenkins is awarded the TUC’s gold medal.
1978 A. Singh is the first Asian TSSA member to be elected as a Labour Councillor.
1982 C. James is the first black member of a railway trade union to be elected to a railway trade
union EC.
1985 C. Hodges is appointed as the first woman editor of the TSS Journal.
1987 B. Hanks becomes the first woman to be elected as TSSA National Treasurer.
1991 A. Singh is the first Asian TSSA member to be elected as Mayor, and the first Asian Mayor
in the history of Newham.
1993 B. Hanks is the first woman to be elected as TSSA President.
1997 The TSSA publishes a report on Equal Opportunities in companies in which it has
members. Anne Marie Mannix is elected as the first woman director of CIE.
1998 The EC sets up a working group to look at the under-representation of women within the
TSSA.
2000 Women in Focus (WiF) is established.
2001
A. Breen is elected TSSA Treasurer.
2002 A Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Support Group is set up leading to the formation
of Spectrum. The TSSA introduces an Equal Opportunities and Diversity policy. Future@TSSA is
launched for young members under 35 years.
2003 A review on Equal Opportunities is presented to conference.
2004 E-Mix is established.
2005 The Disability Working Group is established. Amarjit Singh becomes the first Asian to be
elected as Treasurer of the Association. H. Yeo is the first woman TSSA member to join the
Labour Party’s National Executive.
2007 Self Organised Groups are introduced.
2011 P. McArdle is the first TSSA member to Co-Chair the TUC Disabled Conference.
2012 A Retired Members’ Group is established. H. Yeo is Chair of the Labour Party’s National
Executive.
2013 H. Yeo is the first TSSA member to stand for election as a Police and Crime Commissioner.
THE TSSA AND INTERNATIONALISM
The first tentative international contacts came in 1903 when, in response to requests from
members, the Association contacted the South African Amalgamated Society of Rail Employees
and the National Railway Clerks’ Association in the USA to enquire into working conditions; the
objective was to assist members wishing to emigrate. One of those that chose to seek a new
career overseas was G. Edward Remington, an active member of the RCA. By 1908 A Railway
Clerks’ Association was established in South Africa and although members agreed that Remington
should be its secretary and that it be organised on RCA lines, they turned down his proposal to
adopt its motto “Defence not Defiance”.
In 1907 the RCA affiliated to the short-lived International Federation of Shopworkers and Clerks
and in 1912 an extensive tour of continental railways took place. The General Secretary, A.G.
Walkden and his assistant, George Lathan, embarked on their trip to examine the efficiency of
state-controlled railways. They failed to find any railway clerical unions but they had no difficulty
convincing the EC that its policy of nationalisation and democratic accountability was correct, and
state control unsatisfactory and ineffective.
The foundation of our international links came after thousands of Belgians fled to the UK during the
first world war. Some of these were employees of the Great Eastern Railway and when they
returned in 1919 a branch was opened in Antwerp which continued until 1980. Its members
encouraged the Association to forge links with the Dutch and Belgian railway clerical unions and
from 1923 onwards regular exchanges took place. Having co-operated with the International
Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) for some years the EC, in principle, supported Walkden’s view
that the RCA should affiliate. This did not take place as there was some concern that the
Association might be drawn into industrial action. Then, at the 1923 Conference, the Antwerp
delegate, Eugéne Maes, proposed that an international federation of
railway clerks was his preferred strategy. It was, however, to the ITF
that the Association turned in 1924. From then on the Association
played a valuable role in its development, including within its
democratic structure. From now on fraternal exchanges, particularly
with transport unions, were a regular feature of the Association’s life
and many delegations from all over the world were welcomed at
annual conference.
Non-intervention was the initial response to the Spanish civil war but in
1938 this changed and two RCA members and the General
Secretary’s son, Donald Gallie, went to Spain to fight with the
International Brigades. The EC and many branches responded to the
request for aid and in 1938 every RCA member was asked to make a
donation. Debates on international matters were, however, rare. Indeed, at the 1973 Conference
when socialist President Salvador Allende was murdered during a coup d’état by General
Pinochet, delegates refused to discuss an emergency motion condemning the coup. Gradually,
this political position changed and international motions are now an integral part of conference
debate.
In 1999 the TSSA’s membership agreed to affiliate to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and at the
2000 Conference Fernando Perez Concepćion, General Secretary of the Cuban trade union
Sindicato Transporte, addressed delegates. Up to this time international delegations were
invariably composed of senior staff, the President and EC members but following his speech a new
development took place. In his speech Fernando Perez Concepćion invited the TSSA to attend the
International Solidarity Conference in Cuba. An emergency motion welcomed this invitation but
even though it was opposed by the EC delegates agreed and fourteen members, at their own
expense, joined the President and Head of Information Services, Nancy Platts, at the conference.
It was the largest trade union delegation from the UK. Many visits were made including one to the
railway station where they met colleagues and exchanged gifts. At the end of the conference Fidel
Castro made a startling appearance and they listened with varying degrees of attention to a
speech lasting more than five hours.
In 2002 annual conference called for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, and
for the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state. During conference Suheil
Khader, representing the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, spoke at a fringe
meeting and said that the best way trade unionists can show solidarity is to visit Palestine and find
out at first hand about the effects of the occupation. Six members took up the offer and went to
Palestine on a fact-finding mission during which they travelled to Gaza and around the West bank
visiting a university, meeting trade unionists, transport companies, human rights organisations,
YMCA, and representatives from Jewish groups that opposed the occupation. A report was printed
in the TSSA’s Journal. In 2013 an official visit, which included lay members, took place and
delegates heard about their experiences at annual conference.
As a result of a resolution carried at TSSA’s 2006 Annual Conference, the Association explored
the possibilities of twinning with a trade union in a developing country with a view to sharing
experiences and offering mutual support and guidance. In 2008 this resulted in TSSA entering into
a twinning agreement with our sister Zimbabwean rail union ZARWU (Zimbabwean Amalgamated
Rail Workers Union). Fraternal visits followed and there is regular contact between our
organisations.
TIMELINE
1903 RCA General Secretary, J. Stopford-Challener, writes to the South African Amalagamated
Society of Rail Employees and the USA’s National Railway Clerks’ Association.
1907 The RCA affiliates to the short-lived International Federation of Shopworkers and Clerks.
1908 A Railway Clerks’ Association is established in South Africa; its first secretary, G. E.
Remington, was a former active member of the RCA.
1912 A.G. Walkden and G. Lathan tour Europe to examine state-controlled railways.
1919 The RCA opens a branch in Antwerp.
1923 Antwerp is represented at annual conference. An invitation to attend the annual conference
of the Dutch RCA is accepted.
1924 The RCA affiliates to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and attends its
conference.
1928 A.G. Walkden is the first RCA member to be elected to the ITF’s Executive.
1938 C. Lindley, a founder member of the ITF and its President, attends the RCA conference.
Every RCA member is asked to make a donation to the Spanish Aid Fund.
1939 The ITF transfers its offices to London and is accommodated in the RCA’s head office for a
short period.
1941 RCA General Secretary, C.N. Gallie, is elected to the ITF’s Emergency Council.
1947 The RCA opens a branch in Paris.
1951 The RCA sends its President and General Secretary to San Francisco to a conference of
the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks.
2000 TSSA President D. Horton and fifteen members, visit Cuba.
2002 First fact-finding visit to Palestine by TSSA members.
2008 TSSA enters into a twinning agreement with ZARWU (Zimbabwean Amalgamated Rail
Workers Union).
2013 TSSA members make an official fact-finding visit to Palestine and meet the Palestinian
General Federation of Trade Unions.
OUR GENERAL SECRETARIES
C. Bassett-Vincent
J. Hereford
9th May 1897 - 26th June 1898
26th June 1898 - 13th November 1898
F. Parish
J.E. Stopford-Challener
W.J. West JP (Acting)
A.G. Walkden JP MP
W. Stott
C.N. Gallie
F. Bostock
P.T. Heady
G.B. Thorneycroft
W.J.P. Webber CBE MA
J.G. Bothwell CBE
A.P. Coldrick OBE
D.A. Mackenzie
T.G. Bradley MP (Acting)
T.H. Jenkins CBE MCIT
C.A. Lyons
R.A. Rosser JP
G. Doherty
M. Cortes (Acting)
and elected on
14th November 1898 - 18th June 1899
19th June 1899 - 12th March 1906
March 1906 - 30th June 1906
1st July 1906 - 30th June 1936
1st July 1936 - 31st August 1940
1st September 1940 - 9th November 1947
10th November 1947 - 13th July 1948
14th July 1948 - 31st August 1949
1st September 1949 - 31st May 1953
1st June 1953 - 31st December 1962
1st January 1963 - 7th January 1968
8th January 1968 - 6th June 1973
7th June 1973 - 4th January 1977
8th January 1977 - 30th April 1977
1st May 1977 - 28th August 1982
29th August - 26th February 1989
27th February 1989 - 29th February 2004
1st March 2004 - 14th November 2011
15th November 2011 - 1st January 2012
2nd January 2012.
OUR PRESIDENTS
Alderman J. Batty Langley JP MP
W.D. Leaver
Sir Fortescue Flannery Bart. JP MP
Alderman W.J. West JP
G. Lathan
H.G. Romeril
W.E. Williams
T.H. Gill JP MP
Alderman F.B. Simpson MP
F.C. Watkins JP MP
Alderman P.T. Morris JP MP
J. Haworth
R.J. Gunter MP
T.G. Bradley MP (Acting)
W.H. Johnson MP (Acting)
J. Mills
G. Henman
B. Hanks (Acting)
D. Horton JP
D. Porter
A. Bain
H. Yeo
M. Carney
OUR NATIONAL TREASURERS
C. Bassett-Vincent
J. Hereford
F. Parrish
J.E. Stopford-Challener
J.M. Roberts
W.E. Williams
A.E. Townend
1897 - 1898
1899 - 1900
1900 - 1906
1906 - 1908
1908 - 1912
1912 - 1916
1916 - 1919
1919 - 1932
1932 - 1937
1937 - 1943
1943 - 1953
1953 - 1956
1956 - 1964
October 1964 - May 1965
1965 - 1977
January - May 1977
1977 - 1981
1981 - 1987
1987 - 1993
February - May 1993
1993 - 1997
1997 - 2001
2001 - 2005
2005 - 2011
2011 - 2013
2013
9th May 1897 - 26 June 1898
26 June 1898 - 13th November 1898
14th November 1898 - 18th June 1899
19th June 1899 - 12th March 1906
1906 - 1920
1920 - 1927
1927 - 1934
F.C. Watkins JP MP
P.T. Morris JP
J. Haworth MP
R.J. Gunter
Lord Lindgren
T.G. Bradley MP
W.H. Johnson MP
J. Newall (Acting)
J. Mills
S. Cohen MP
G. Henman
B. Hanks
P. Holloway (Acting)
D. Horton JP
D. Porter
A. Breen
A. Bain
A. Singh
H. Yeo
M. Carney
A. Bain
1934 - 1937
1937 - 1943
1943 - 1953
1953 - 1956
1956 - 1961
1961 - 1965
1965 - 1977
January - May 1977
1977 - 1981
1981 - 1984
1984 - 1987
1987 - 1993
February - May 1993
1993 - 1997
1997 - 2001
2001 - 2004
2004 - 2005
2005 - 2007
2007 - 2011
2011 - 2013
2013
RCA/TSSA MEMBERSHIP
1897
297
1914
29,394
1919
84,337
1939
64,389
1945
89,409
1952
91,514
1979
72,659
1993
39,234
1997
31,132
2013
21,726
BRANCHES
12
233
427
438
439
460
299
200
169
88