Transport Salaried Staffs' Association: Difference between revisions
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Individual members are allocated to branches. Historically branches were organised geographically and by grade, e.g. ''Liverpool; Dublin No. 1; Crewe No. 4 Technical; Crewe Management Staffs'' (the separate branches for different grades of staff were so that people with grievances against their managers wouldn't find those same managers as members of their branch). In Ireland, branches are still organised on this basis, but in the UK starting in 1998 there was a reorganisation such that members of most branches are employed by a single company e.g. ''Virgin Midlands'' - this was required in the fragmented world of the privatised railway because the private companies would not allow access for non-employees onto their premises. |
Individual members are allocated to branches. Historically branches were organised geographically and by grade, e.g. ''Liverpool; Dublin No. 1; Crewe No. 4 Technical; Crewe Management Staffs'' (the separate branches for different grades of staff were so that people with grievances against their managers wouldn't find those same managers as members of their branch). In Ireland, branches are still organised on this basis, but in the UK starting in 1998 there was a reorganisation such that members of most branches are employed by a single company e.g. ''Virgin Midlands'' - this was required in the fragmented world of the privatised railway because the private companies would not allow access for non-employees onto their premises. |
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Branches are in turn allocated to divisions - there are 14 geographical divisions, plus one for London Transport. Each division has a Divisional Council which meets at least twice a year, and members in each division elect a member of the Executive Committee (EC). EC members are elected for a three-year term, subject to a maximum of two consecutive terms of office (but can stand again after 3 years off the committee). The Executive Committee meets approximately ten times a year in London and continuously during the four-day annual conference held each May. The EC is responsible for the efficient running of the union, the employment of staff (of whom there are about |
Branches are in turn allocated to divisions - there are 14 geographical divisions, plus one for London Transport. Each division has a Divisional Council which meets at least twice a year, and members in each division elect a member of the Executive Committee (EC). EC members are elected for a three-year term, subject to a maximum of two consecutive terms of office (but can stand again after 3 years off the committee). The Executive Committee meets approximately ten times a year in London and continuously during the four-day annual conference held each May. The EC is responsible for the efficient running of the union, the employment of staff (of whom there are about 70), the oversight of the union's finances, and the implementation of decisions of Annual Conference. |
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The Annual Conference is the supreme decision-making body of the union. Each branch may send one delegate to the Conference, unless a branch has more than 200 members, in which case it has two delegates. Each branch can submit two motions and two amendments to motions to the Conference Agenda, and once every five years can submit two amendments to the union's Rule Book |
The Annual Conference is the supreme decision-making body of the union. Each branch may send one delegate to the Conference, unless a branch has more than 200 members, in which case it has two delegates. Each branch can submit two motions and two amendments to motions to the Conference Agenda, and once every five years can submit two amendments to the union's Rule Book. |
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Organisation in Ireland is slightly different. The whole of Ireland forms one Division. As trade union law in the Republic of Ireland forbids trade unions being run by people not resident on the island of Ireland, the EC and Annual Conference cannot directly control the association's activity in the republic as they do in Britain. Instead, the Irish Divisional Council is constituted as the Irish Committee and chaired by the EC member for Ireland, and it operates in a similar manner to the EC. There is a biennial Irish Conference of delegates from all the Irish branches, to set policy solely relating to Ireland. When Irish branches want the Annual Conference to do something, motions to Annual Conference are normally phrased as 'requests' that the Irish Committee consider doing something rather than as the more normal 'instructions' that the Executive Committee do something. |
Organisation in Ireland is slightly different. The whole of Ireland forms one Division. As trade union law in the Republic of Ireland forbids trade unions being run by people not resident on the island of Ireland, the EC and Annual Conference cannot directly control the association's activity in the republic as they do in Britain. Instead, the Irish Divisional Council is constituted as the Irish Committee and chaired by the EC member for Ireland, and it operates in a similar manner to the EC. There is a biennial Irish Conference of delegates from all the Irish branches, to set policy solely relating to Ireland. When Irish branches want the Annual Conference to do something, motions to Annual Conference are normally phrased as 'requests' that the Irish Committee consider doing something rather than as the more normal 'instructions' that the Executive Committee do something. |
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In September 2021, TSSA announced that is talks in starting merging the union with the North American [[International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers|Boilermakers Union]] with the viewpoint of completing the merger by 1 July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=TSSA enters a transatlantic merger talks first|url=https://www.tssa.org.uk/news-and-events/tssa-news/tssa-enters-a-transatlantic-merger-talks-first|access-date=2022-02-04|website=TSSA|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-24|title=Transport union TSSA in talks over merger with US counterpart|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-58677184|access-date=2022-02-04}}</ref> In January 2022, union representatives voted by 88% to agree to the merger,<ref>{{Cite web|title=TSSA workplace reps vote for merger|url=https://www.tssa.org.uk/news-and-events/tssa-news/tssa-workplace-reps-vote-for-merger|access-date=2022-02-04|website=TSSA|language=en}}</ref> the union would start to ballot members from 8 February 2022. |
In September 2021, TSSA announced that is talks in starting merging the union with the North American [[International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers|Boilermakers Union]] with the viewpoint of completing the merger by 1 July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=TSSA enters a transatlantic merger talks first|url=https://www.tssa.org.uk/news-and-events/tssa-news/tssa-enters-a-transatlantic-merger-talks-first|access-date=2022-02-04|website=TSSA|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-24|title=Transport union TSSA in talks over merger with US counterpart|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-58677184|access-date=2022-02-04}}</ref> In January 2022, union representatives voted by 88% to agree to the merger,<ref>{{Cite web|title=TSSA workplace reps vote for merger|url=https://www.tssa.org.uk/news-and-events/tssa-news/tssa-workplace-reps-vote-for-merger|access-date=2022-02-04|website=TSSA|language=en}}</ref> the union would start to ballot members from 8 February 2022. |
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In 2022 the union was granted an injunction |
In 2022 the union was granted an injunction on an employee who has accused Manuel Cortes, the general secretary of the TSSA of sexual harrassment and of bullying by senior staff members. Cortes claims that he has no memory of the evening due to excessive drinking. The injunction forbids the woman from talking about the alleged harassment and bullying.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-10 |title=Union enforces NDA to stop woman repeating sexual harassment allegation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/may/10/union-enforces-nda-to-stop-woman-repeating-sexual-harassment-allegation |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> |
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==Election results== |
==Election results== |
Revision as of 08:23, 11 May 2022
Transport Salaried Staffs' Association | |
Founded | 1897 |
---|---|
Headquarters | 2nd Floor, 17 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4SQ |
Location | |
Members | 17,856[1] |
Key people | Mick Carney, president Manuel Cortes, general secretary |
Affiliations | TUC, ICTU, STUC, CSEU, ETF, Labour Party[2] |
Website | www |
The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) is a trade union for workers in the transport and travel industries in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its head office is in London, and it has regional offices in Bristol, Derby, Dublin, Manchester, York and Glasgow.
TSSA has approximately 17,856 members in the UK and Ireland.[1] While principally a union for people in the railway industry, the effect of the nationalisation and subsequent privatisations following the Second World War has meant that it has members working for railway companies, shipping companies, bus companies, travel agencies, airlines, call centres, and IT companies.
Organisation
Individual members are allocated to branches. Historically branches were organised geographically and by grade, e.g. Liverpool; Dublin No. 1; Crewe No. 4 Technical; Crewe Management Staffs (the separate branches for different grades of staff were so that people with grievances against their managers wouldn't find those same managers as members of their branch). In Ireland, branches are still organised on this basis, but in the UK starting in 1998 there was a reorganisation such that members of most branches are employed by a single company e.g. Virgin Midlands - this was required in the fragmented world of the privatised railway because the private companies would not allow access for non-employees onto their premises.
Branches are in turn allocated to divisions - there are 14 geographical divisions, plus one for London Transport. Each division has a Divisional Council which meets at least twice a year, and members in each division elect a member of the Executive Committee (EC). EC members are elected for a three-year term, subject to a maximum of two consecutive terms of office (but can stand again after 3 years off the committee). The Executive Committee meets approximately ten times a year in London and continuously during the four-day annual conference held each May. The EC is responsible for the efficient running of the union, the employment of staff (of whom there are about 70), the oversight of the union's finances, and the implementation of decisions of Annual Conference.
The Annual Conference is the supreme decision-making body of the union. Each branch may send one delegate to the Conference, unless a branch has more than 200 members, in which case it has two delegates. Each branch can submit two motions and two amendments to motions to the Conference Agenda, and once every five years can submit two amendments to the union's Rule Book.
Organisation in Ireland is slightly different. The whole of Ireland forms one Division. As trade union law in the Republic of Ireland forbids trade unions being run by people not resident on the island of Ireland, the EC and Annual Conference cannot directly control the association's activity in the republic as they do in Britain. Instead, the Irish Divisional Council is constituted as the Irish Committee and chaired by the EC member for Ireland, and it operates in a similar manner to the EC. There is a biennial Irish Conference of delegates from all the Irish branches, to set policy solely relating to Ireland. When Irish branches want the Annual Conference to do something, motions to Annual Conference are normally phrased as 'requests' that the Irish Committee consider doing something rather than as the more normal 'instructions' that the Executive Committee do something.
History
The union was founded in Sheffield in 1897 as the National Association of General Railway Clerks, although it was a narrow decision to found the union. The railway companies were strongly opposed to trade unions and two earlier attempts to form a clerks' union had failed and, discouraged, the organisers decided by a majority of only one vote to try a third time - this time successfully. In 1899 it was renamed the Railway Clerks' Association (RCA), and in 1951 it adopted its current name.[3]
The early years were difficult. The third General Secretary, John Stopford-Challener, shot himself in Paris's Bois de Boulogne in 1906; it was only after his suicide that it was discovered that he had absconded with the union's money. After this came the era of A.G. Walkden, who as General Secretary for 30 years led the union to the peak of its influence; the head office in London, built in the early 1960s, was named after him. The railway companies refused to recognise the trade unions until after the strike of 1919, but after that time membership rose steadily, to a peak of some 91,500 in the early 1950s. The subsequent closure of uneconomic railway lines, the Beeching axe, and especially the computerisation of railway offices led to large scale reductions in the eligible membership. Membership was around 75,000 in 1970, 71,000 in 1980, and 39,000 in 1990. There was a rapid loss of around 25% of its membership in the mid to late 1990s because the grades of staff covered by the union were the ones hardest hit when British Rail was broken up from 1994 onwards; however the Executive Committee adopted a policy of seeking to vigorously recruit additional members particularly in those areas such as travel agencies which had not been the principal focus of the union in the past. This has led to more stable membership figures, including a small increase at the turn of the century.[4]
The union has been involved in at least one London Underground strike, between 6 and 7 September 2010.[5]
In July 2015, TSSA endorsed Jeremy Corbyn's campaign in the Labour Party leadership election.[6] TSSA National Political Officer, Sam Tarry spearheaded Corbyn's second leadership campaign.[7]
In 2018, preparatory work for the HS2 railway meant that the TSSA had to vacate its head office since the 1960s, at Walkden House in Melton Street, adjacent to London's Euston Station, and moved to a new head office in Devonshire Square, near Liverpool Street Station.
In September 2021, TSSA announced that is talks in starting merging the union with the North American Boilermakers Union with the viewpoint of completing the merger by 1 July 2022.[8][9] In January 2022, union representatives voted by 88% to agree to the merger,[10] the union would start to ballot members from 8 February 2022.
In 2022 the union was granted an injunction on an employee who has accused Manuel Cortes, the general secretary of the TSSA of sexual harrassment and of bullying by senior staff members. Cortes claims that he has no memory of the evening due to excessive drinking. The injunction forbids the woman from talking about the alleged harassment and bullying.[11]
Election results
From 1918 until 1992, the union sponsored a large number of Labour Party candidates, many of whom won election.
Office holders
General Secretaries
- 1897: Charles Bassett-Vincent[34]
- 1898: John Hereford[34]
- 1898: F. Parrish (acting)[34]
- 1899: John Stopford Challener[34]
- 1906: William J. West (acting)[34]
- 1906: Alexander Walkden[34]
- 1936: William Stott[34]
- 1940: Charles Gallie[34]
- 1947: Fred Bostock[34]
- 1948: Percy Heady (acting)[34]
- 1949: George Thorneycroft[34]
- 1953: Bill Webber[34]
- 1963: John Bothwell[34]
- 1968: Percy Coldrick[34]
- 1973: David Mackenzie[34]
- 1977: Tom Bradley (acting)[34]
- 1977: Tom Jenkins[34]
- 1982: Bert Lyons[34]
- 1989: Richard Rosser[34]
- 2004: Gerry Doherty
- 2011: Manuel Cortes[35]
Presidents
- 1897: J. Batty Langley[36]
- 1899: W. D. Leaver[36]
- 1900: Fortescue Flannery[36]
- 1906: William J. West[36]
- 1908: George Lathan[36]
- 1912: Herbert Romeril[36]
- 1916: W. E. Williams[36]
- 1919: Harry Gill[36]
- 1932: Fred Simpson[36]
- 1937: Frederick Watkins[36]
- 1943: Percy Morris[36]
- 1953: James Haworth[36]
- 1956: Ray Gunter[36]
- 1964: Tom Bradley[36]
- 1977: Walter Johnson[36]
- 1981: Jim Mills[36]
- 1987: Geoff Henman[36]
- 1993: Brenda Hanks [36]
- 1997: David Horton[36]
- 2001: David Porter[36]
- 2005: Andy Bain
- 2011: Harriet Yeo
- 2013: Mick Carney
Treasurers
Until 1906 the General Secretary also controlled the unions' funds. John Stopford-Challener's embezzlement proved that this was an unwise arrangement and the office of National Treasurer was then instituted.
- 1906: J. M. Roberts[37]
- 1920: W. E. Williams[37]
- 1927: Arnold Ernest Townend[37]
- 1934: Frederick Watkins MP[37]
- 1937: Percy Morris[37]
- 1943: James Haworth MP[37]
- 1953: Ray J. Gunter MP[37]
- 1956: Lord Lindgren[37]
- 1961: Tom G. Bradley MP[37]
- 1965: Walter Johnson MP[37]
- 1977: Jock Newall (acting)[37]
- 1977: Jim Mills[37]
- 1981: Stanley Cohen MP[37]
- 1984: Geoff Henman[37]
- 1987: Brenda Hanks[37]
- 1993: Peter Holloway (acting)[37]
- 1993: David Horton[37]
- 1997: David Porter[37]
- 2001: Annie Breen[37]
- 2004: Amarjit Singh (acting)[37]
- 2004: Andy Bain[37]
- 2005: Harriet Yeo[37]
- 2011: Mick Carney
- 2013: Andy Bain
- 2015: Jason Turvey
References
- ^ a b https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/868169/376T_2018.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Malcolm Wallace (1996). "Birth of the Union". Single or Return. TSSA. Archived from the original on 8 December 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2007.
- ^ Malcolm Wallace; Dave Hillam (2003) [1996]. "RCA/TSSA Branches & Membership". Single or Return. TSSA. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2007.
- ^ "Government Housing Resources". 3 May 2014. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010.
{{cite news}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; 3 May 2014 suggested (help) - ^ "TSSA backs Jeremy Corbyn for Labour leader and Angela Eagle for deputy". Transport Salaried Staffs' Association. 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- ^ Dale, Ian (24 September 2016). "The Top 100 People on the Left List 2016". Ian Dale. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ "TSSA enters a transatlantic merger talks first". TSSA. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Transport union TSSA in talks over merger with US counterpart". BBC News. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "TSSA workplace reps vote for merger". TSSA. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Union enforces NDA to stop woman repeating sexual harassment allegation". the Guardian. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Wallace, Malcolm (1996). Single or return. Transport Salaried Staffs' Association. p. 130.
- ^ Wallace, Malcolm (1996). Single or return. Transport Salaried Staffs' Association. pp. 194–195.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Wallace, Malcolm (1996). Single or return. Transport Salaried Staffs' Association. pp. 162–165.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Labour's candidates". Manchester Guardian. 11 October 1924.
- ^ Wallace, Malcolm (1996). Single or return. Transport Salaried Staffs' Association. p. 165.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "List of Labour Candidates and Election Results, May 30th, 1929". Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party: 24–44. 1929.
- ^ a b c d e f g "List of Endorsed Labour Candidates and Election Results, October 27, 1931". Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party: 11–27. 1931.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "List of Endorsed Labour Candidates and Election Results, November 14, 1935". Report of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party: 8–23. 1935.
- ^ "Parliamentary by-elections". Report of the Annual Labour Party Conference: 38–45. 1937.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Labour Party, Report of the Forty-Fifth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 232-248.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "List of Parliamentary Labour candidates and election results, February 23rd, 1950". Report of the Forty-Ninth Annual Conference of the Labour Party: 179–198. 1950.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "List of Parliamentary Labour candidates and election results, 25th October, 1951". Report of the Fiftieth Annual Conference of the Labour Party: 184–203. 1951.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Labour Party, Report of the Fifty-Fourth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 255–275.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Labour Party, Report of the Fifty-Eighth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 179–201.
- ^ a b c d e f g Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 158–180.
- ^ a b c d e Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Fifth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 308–330.
- ^ a b c d Labour Party, Report of the Sixty-Ninth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 289–312.
- ^ a b c d e Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 371–390.
- ^ a b c d Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Third Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 391–411.
- ^ a b c Labour Party, Report of the Seventy-Eighth Annual Conference of the Labour Party, pp. 406–431.
- ^ Wallace, Malcolm (1996). Single or return. Transport Salaried Staffs' Association. pp. 445–446.
- ^ a b c d Wallace, Malcolm (1996). Single or return. Transport Salaried Staffs' Association. p. 470.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Malcolm Wallace; Dave Hillam (2003) [1996]. "General Secretaries of the Association". Single or Return. TSSA. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2007.
- ^ "Gibraltarian wins second term at head of UK transport union". Gibraltar Chronicle. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Malcolm Wallace; Dave Hillam (2003) [1996]. "Presidents of the Association". Single or Return. TSSA. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Malcolm Wallace; Dave Hillam (2003) [1996]. "Treasurers of the Association". Single or Return. TSSA. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2007.
External links
- TSSA British website
- TSSA Irish website Archived 10 February 2003 at the Wayback Machine
- Single or Return - the official history of the TSSA Archived 14 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Catalogue of the TSSA archives, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick
- Articles with bare URLs for citations from May 2021
- Transport Salaried Staffs' Association
- 1897 establishments in the United Kingdom
- Railway unions in the United Kingdom
- Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden
- Trade unions established in 1897
- Transport trade unions in Ireland
- Trade unions affiliated with the Labour Party (UK)
- Trade unions based in London
- Trade unions affiliated with the Trades Union Congress