1921 to 1983 Until 1921, the leading body of the TUC was the
Parliamentary Committee. This had seventeen members, but by the collapse of the
Triple Alliance, it was considered ineffective and to have insufficient powers in industrial matters. The new General Council had 32 members, elected from industrial groups, each consisting of one or more unions operating in a particular industry. Two of the places were reserved for women. It received additional powers to intervene in the case of major industrial disputes, and to resolve inter-union conflicts. In 1924, the Joint Consultative Committee was set up, which brought
trades councils ultimately under the control of the General Council. However, these powers were not always exercised; many members of the council in the early years were elected on grounds of seniority, rather than recent accomplishments. Some were associated with left- and right-wing factions, although most were not strongly identified with a particular wing of the movement. Changes to the groups and numbers of seats were made over time, as the number of workers represented in different industries fluctuated, but the system survived intact until the early 1980s.
Group 1: Mining and Quarrying Most of the members elected from Group 1 represented the large
Miners' Federation of Great Britain, or its successor, the
National Union of Mineworkers, but there were several smaller unions which often managed to win one seat.
Group 2: Railways Throughout this period, Group 2 comprised three railway unions: the
Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF),
National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) and
Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA). Each usually saw its general secretary elected to one of the three seats, although the abolition of one seat in 1969 left a battle between ASLEF and the TSSA for the second seat. Originally Group 11, in 1968 it absorbed the Boot, Shoe and Leather Group, and was renumbered as Group 12.
Group 12: Boot, Shoe and Leather The Boot, Shoe and Leather Group was dominated by the
National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives (NUBSO). It also included smaller rivals, notably the
Rossendale Union of Boot, Shoe and Slipper Operatives, unions of leather workers, and the
National Union of Glovers. The group was originally numbered 18, and was renumbered on the creation of the Civil Servants Group. The group was expanded to five seats in 1981.
1983 to present After many years of discussion, a comprehensive restructure of the council was agreed in 1982, and took place following the annual TUC meeting in September 1983. Initially, the new council had 53 members, with those unions with more than 100,000 members gaining automatic seats and therefore becoming eligible to nominate members without them being subject to a vote of other unions. Six seats were initially reserved for women.
Section A: Larger unions Current members Former members Section B: Unions with 30,000 to 200,000 members Section B originated as part of Section A, unions with 100,000 to 200,000 members being automatically entitled to one seat on the council. In 1989, these unions were moved to a new Section B, but there were no changes to their entitlement of seats. Unions with 30,000 to 99,999 members moved to Section B in 2012.
Section C: Other unions Unions with fewer than 100,000 members were placed in Section B until 1989. In 1989, the section for small unions was renamed Section C, and was reduced to eight members. Increased to 11 members in 2001. In 2012, unions with 30,000 to 99,999 members were moved to Section B, and Section C was reduced to seven members.
Section D: Women Reduced to four members in 1989.
Sections E, F and G: Black workers Section H: Disabled workers Created 2001
Section I: LGBT workers Created 2001
Section J: Young workers Created 2001 ==References==