Transport and General Workers' Union

The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU or T&G) was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland – where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union (ATGWU) to differentiate itself from the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union – with 900,000 members (and was once the largest trade union in the world). It was founded in 1922 and Ernest Bevin served as its first general secretary. In 2007, it merged with Amicus to form Unite the Union. History At the time of its creation in 1922, the TGWU was the largest and most ambitious amalgamation brought about within trade unionism. Its structure combined regional organisation, based on Districts and Areas, with committee organisation by occupation, based on six broad Trade Groups. Trade groups were not closely linked to trades, but were elected by activists. Officials of the union were grouped by region, and could be asked to serve each or any trade group. Docks Group The Docks Group was created in 1922 to represent former members of the following unions: Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union of Great Britain and Ireland Labour Protection League (London, est. 1889) National Amalgamated Coal Porters' Union of Inland and Seaborne Coal Workers (London, est. 1889) National Amalgamated Labourers' Union of Great Britain and Ireland (Cardiff, est. 1889) North of England Trimmers' and Teemers' Association (est. 1871)