GMB - Britain's General Union has been formed by a series of mergers of trade unions commencing in 1924 with the formation of the National Union of General and Municipal Workers.

In 1889 two unions had formed, in London the Gasworkers and General Union, soon renamed the National Union of Gasworkers and General Labourers (NUGW & GL), and on Tyneside the National Amalgamated Union of Labour (NAUL).
In 1916 the NUGW & GL changed its name to the National Union of General Workers (NUGW). In 1921 the National Federation of Women Workers merged with it.
In 1924 the NUGW merged with NAUL and the Municipal Employees Association to form the National Union of General and Municipal Workers (NUGMW).

Over the next fifty years many other unions joined the NUGMW.
These included:

• National Union of Water Works Employees
• Scottish Metalworkers' Union
• Salt & Chemical Workers' Union
• Manchester Warehouse Employees' Association
• Rubber, Plastics & Allied Workers' Union
• Scottish Professional Footballers' Association
• Coopers & Allied Workers of GB
• Amalgamated Textile Workers
• Scottish Lace & Textile Workers' Union
• Greater London Staff Association

In 1982 the NUGMW merged with the Boilermakers to form the General Municipal and Boilermakers Union (GMBU)

The Boilermakers Union had formed in 1834, later becoming the United Society of Boilermakers and Iron Ship Builders and, by 1905, Iron and Steel Shipbuilders. In 1954 the name became the United Society of Boilermakers, Shipbuilders and Structural Workers.
In 1962 the Boilermakers merged with the Amalgamated Society of Blacksmiths, Forge and Smithy Workers, and then in 1964 with the Ship Constructors and Shipwrights giving a final name, the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths & Structural Workers.

The next major merger was in 1989 with the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff (APEX).
The Clerks Union was formed in 1890 the name soon changing to the National Union of Clerks. In 1920, after rapid growth and the absorption of a number of other unions the name was again changed, to The National Union of Clerks and Administrative Workers (NUCAW).
In 1940 the Association of Women Clerks and Secretaries merged with NUCAW which became the Clerical and Administrative Workers Union. In 1972 the breadth of its representation was acknowledged in a new name, the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff (APEX).

In 1991 the National Union of Tailors & Garment Workers joined the GMB.
In 1912 the United Garment Workers Union was formed by:

• Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Tailors
• Amalgamated Union of Clothiers' Operatives
• Amalgamated Jewish Tailors, Pressers and Machinists' Trade Union
• London Clothiers Cutters
• The Shirt, Jacket and Overall Workers
• The Belfast Shirt and Collar Workers

• Scottish National Association of Operative Tailors
• London Operative Tailors
• Amalgamated Society of Tailors and Tailoresses

In 1993 it was the turn of the Furniture, Timber, and Allied Trades Union.
The FTAT's history went back to 1747 and the formation of the first trade union, National Society of Brushmakers and General Workers. By the end of the 19th century, three major unions existed in the furniture and upholstery trades: the Alliance Cabinet Makers, the United Operative Cabinet and Chairmakers' Society of Scotland and the Amalgamated Union of Upholsterers (AUU). A series of mergers culminated in the formation of the National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives (NUFTO) in 1947.
In 1971 NUFTO merged with the Amalgamated Society of Woodcutting Machinists to form FTAT.
Some more detail about the FTAT archive can be found here

Records and journals of many of these unions, both as national bodies and in local branches are to be found at the WCML. A partial list of holdings can be found on the GMB Collection page

Many more items are listed in our online catalogue . and in our general list of trade union archives