Stonemasons and building trade workers unions
A brief history
1833 - Friendly Society of Operative Stonemasons of England, Ireland and Wales was established. The society was made up of individual lodges.
1848 - London Order of Operative Bricklayers Society and Manchester Unity of Operative Bricklayers Society were both formed. The Manchester Unity was known by several different titles.
1919 - Friendly Society of Operative Stonemasons of England, Ireland and Wales changed its name to the Operative Society of Masons, Quarrymen and Allied Trades of England and Wales
1921 - Operative Society of Masons, Quarrymen and Allied Trades of England and Wales amalgamated with the Manchester Unity of Operatives Bricklayers Society and the London Order of Operative Bricklayers Society to form the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers (AUBTW)
1952 - National builders Labourers and Constructional Workers Society joined the AUBTW
1966 - National Society of Street Masons, Paviours and Roadmakers joined the AUBTW
1969 - Amalgamated Slaters, Tilers and Roofing Operatives Society joined the AUBTW
1971 - AUBTW merged with Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers and Decorators to form the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT)
The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians still exists today. Click here to see their website
Stonemasons and building trade workers archives in our collection
Friendly Society of Operative Stonemasons of England, Ireland and Wales (TU/STONE)
- Annual audits, 1865-1869, 1873-1881, 1885-1890, 1894-1918
- Fortnighly journals 1912-1913
Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers (TU/BUILD)
- Annual reports, 1921-1970
- National conference reports, 1922-1970
- Branch and district records including Hyde branch, Manchester District Committee and Manchester no. 6 branch
Other records are held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick:
Friendly Society of Operative Stonemasons of England, Ireland and Wales (MSS.78/OS)
Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers (MSS.78/AU)