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Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) ArchiveReference codes, titles and dates of ArchiveReference Code: GB1847 STUC Administrative historyName of Creator: The
Scottish Trades Union Congress The STUC originally had a rented office at 58 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland, in a building belonging to the Scottish Council for Women's Trade. Between 1900 and 1949 they had offices in various locations in Glasgow city centre and the Govanhill area of Glasgow before moving to Woodlands Terrace in the west end of the city in 1949. In 1998, the offices moved to Woodlands Road. The Annual Congress is the Governing Body of the STUC. From the earliest days, the Congress concerned itself with a wide range of economic and social questions, lobbying British Members of Parliament, and from 1999 the Scottish Parliament and executive, on major issues. Hours and conditions of work and the battles around these issues were always a central preoccupation of the Congress, but it also concerned itself with wider issues such as international affairs, housing, education, transport, peace, racism, and social and economic issues, as well as promoting and supporting joint trades union councils (later re-named trade union councils). The struggle for independent working class political representation was one of the concerns on which the Congress was founded and in 1900, the Congress was instrumental in establishing the Scottish Workers' Parliamentary Election Committee, a forerunner of the Scottish Council of the Labour Party, which would nominate and support candidates for Parliamentary elections. The Congress was also involved with the Scottish Workers' Representation Committee which continued to function until 1909 when its duties were taken over by the national Labour Party. A Scottish Council of the Labour Party was formed in 1915. Despite this involvement in the process which established the Labour Party, the STUC is not, and has never been, affiliated to any political party. The STUC has always had active women members. In 1937 the Congress agreed a motion to establish youth fellowships as a way of attracting young people to join the unions, and therefore encourage union membership regardless of sex or age. It was realised that to create separate youth fellowships was restrictive, suggesting that the old and young should work separately. Therefore, in 1938, it was decided to establish the Trade Union Youth Advisory Committee (now called the Youth Committee) encouraging youth sections within the existing unions. From the 1930s onwards, probably the most important concern of the Congress has been the Scottish economy. The STUC has played its part in the legend of Red Clydeside 1910-1922; the period of militancy and protest by the working people of Glasgow and elsewhere. It has played a role in many historic struggles of the Scottish people including the General Strike of 1926, the post-war reconstruction of Scottish industry, and more recent events like the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in of 1971-1972, the 1984-1985 miners strike and the defeat of the poll tax in the early 1990s. The Congress was instrumental in bringing the motor industry to Bathgate and Linwood, Scotland, in the 1960s the STUC played a central role for many decades in the campaign which established the Scottish Parliament. By 1947 the STUC consisted of 83 affiliated trades unions with a membership of 671,630. In addition 51 trades councils were affiliated. Membership was made up of members of the Scottish unions and Scottish members of unions covering the British Isles. The period 1977 to 1980 saw membership of the STUC peak to over one million with 80 affiliated unions and 45 trades union counils. A gradual decline of membership then occurred to a total of 634,797 in 2001 with 46 affiliated unions and 33 trades union councils. The focal point of the STUC is its Annual Congress held in April and attended by delegates from affiliated organisations. It is the Annual Congress which sets down the policy of the STUC and which elects the General Council (known as the Parliamentary Committee until 1923). Between Congresses, it is the General Council which implements policy. The affiliates are divided into seven sections: transport, mining and distribution; steel, engineering and electrical; manufacturing; municipal, general and building; financial, scientific and technical services; civil and public services; education and cultural services; and trades union councils. Each of these sections is represented on the General Council (with a number of places in each section reserved for representatives of women workers), approximately on the basis of its proportion of the total STUC membership. There are also 2 places on the General Council for representatives of black workers, and 2 places for representatives of young (under the age of 26) workers. Whilst the General Council is elected by the whole of Congress, candidates are restricted to standing for election to the section to which their organisation belongs. In 2007 the STUC has its main offices in Woodlands Road, Glasgow, and a sub office located in the offices of Unison in Belford Road, Edinburgh. Archival history: Retained by STUC (part retained by NLS). What is in the ArchiveScope and Content Abstract: The Archive holds all the surviving documentation relating to the STUC and its business from 1897 onwards. The scope of the Archive covers the business of the STUC and its annual Congress , the General Council and its Committees, surviving General Secretary files, STUC publications, non STUC publications relating to STUC business, surviving Trades Councils documentation and a vast selection of issue and subject based folders relating to the work of the STUC. The Archive also holds ephemera, posters and photographs. To date one third of the Archive is catalogued (see details below) and some lists exist for other parts of this large collection. This scope and content will be updated as more material is sorted and listed. Some links below require Adobe Acrobat Identified material to date includes -
Accrual: Annual deposits. System of Arrangement:The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received. Download a summary heirarchy for catalogued material Getting & using the ArchiveConditions Governing Access: Open by arrangement with the Archivist. The majority of documents can be consulted however permission must be sought for certain areas of the collection.
Other collections of similar subject matterLocation of Originals: This material is original.
Further details of external organisations and related material can be found on the appropriate links page. Publication Note: Tuckett, Angela. The Scottish Trades Union Congress :the first 80 years 1897-1977, Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing, 1986. Archive contactCarole McCallum (University Archivist) Notes relating to the preparation of this descriptionDescription Compilation Details: Compiled by Carole McCallum, University Archivist, 21 February 2002. Last Updated:
18 August, 2009
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