National Union of Railwaymen
The National Union of Railwaymen was a trade union of railway workers in the United Kingdom. The largest railway workers' union in the country, it was influential in the national trade union movement.
History
The NUR was an industrial union founded in 1913 by the merger of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the United Pointsmen and Signalmen's Society and the General Railway Workers' Union.The NUR represented the majority of railway workers, but not white-collar workers, who were members of the Railway Clerks' Association. NUR membership was open to drivers and firemen but most chose instead to be members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen.
In 1914 the NUR joined forces with the National Transport Workers' Federation and Mining Federation of Great Britain to form the Triple Alliance – perhaps an unfortunate name, as the same year the Triple Entente of Britain, France and Russia and the Triple Alliance of Germany, and Austria-Hungary went to war.
In 1919 the NUR and ASLEF jointly organised the 1919 United Kingdom railway strike, which prevented a proposed wage reduction and won an eight-hour maximum working day. The NUR formed Federation agreements with ASLEF in 1903 and 1982 but both were short-lived.
The NUR had 408,900 members in 1945, making it the fifth largest union in Britain. Its membership fell to 369,400 in 1956 and 227,800 in 1966.
Following the formation of British Rail, the majority of NUR members worked for the nationalised organisation. However, other members worked for London Transport, the National Freight Corporation and various smaller companies. It also recruited British Rail workers in associated industries, such as its hotels, docks and harbours, and on the Sealink ferries.
In 1990 the NUR merged with the National Union of Seamen to form the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and ceased to exist as a separate union.
Election results
The union sponsored numerous Labour Party Parliamentary candidates, many of whom won election.Election | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | % share | Position |
1918 general election | Cardiff East | 5,554 | 28.5 | 3 | |
1918 general election | Derby | 25,145 | 37.8 | 1 | |
1918 general election | Manchester Ardwick | 5,670 | 31.8 | 2 | |
1918 general election | Middlesbrough West | 5,350 | 32.8 | 2 | |
1918 general election | Newcastle-upon-Tyne East | 5,195 | 34.7 | 2 | |
1918 general election | Reading | 8,410 | 29.8 | 2 | |
1918 general election | Wakefield | 5,882 | 33.7 | 2 | |
1918 general election | Warrington | 5,377 | 22.6 | 3 | |
1921 by-election | Dudley | 10,244 | 50.7 | 1 | |
1921 by-election | Heywood and Radcliffe | 13,430 | 41.7 | 1 | |
1922 general election | Bolton | 20,156 | 15.8 | 4 | |
1922 general election | Bristol East | 13,759 | 49.7 | 2 | |
1922 general election | Cardiff East | 7,506 | 31.4 | 3 | |
1922 general election | Derby | 25,215 | 27.0 | 1 | |
1922 general election | Dudley | 8,522 | 39.8 | 2 | |
1922 general election | Heywood and Radcliffe | 15,334 | 44.6 | 2 | |
1922 general election | Leeds South | 13,210 | 53.7 | 1 | |
1922 general election | Leyton East | 6,300 | 30.9 | 2 | |
1922 general election | Manchester Ardwick | 14,031 | 52.3 | 1 | |
1922 general election | Salford West | 8,724 | 32.3 | 2 | |
1922 general election | Wakefield | 9,798 | 48.5 | 2 | |
1922 general election | Wolverhampton East | 3,076 | 12.2 | 3 | |
1923 general election | Derby | 24,887 | 29.0 | 1 | |
1923 general election | Leeds South | 11,705 | 44.2 | 1 | |
1923 general election | Manchester Ardwick | 15,673 | 60.4 | 1 | |
1923 general election | Heywood and Radcliffe | 15,273 | 47.1 | 2 | |
1923 general election | Rushcliffe | 6,882 | 24.7 | 3 | |
1924 general election | Barkston Ash | 11,894 | 41.4 | 2 | |
1924 general election | Derby | 27,423 | 25.7 | 1 | |
1924 general election | Leeds South | 12,799 | 46.3 | 1 | |
1924 general election | Manchester Ardwick | 15,941 | 54.9 | 1 | |
1924 general election | Oldham | 22,081 | 18.4 | 4 | |
1924 general election | Paddington North | 10,481 | 38.1 | 2 | |
1924 general election | Wakefield | 10,192 | 47.9 | 2 | |
1928 by-election | Ashton-under-Lyne | 9,567 | 40.6 | 1 | |
1929 general election | Ashton-under-Lyne | 13,170 | 44.4 | 1 | |
1929 general election | Berwick-upon-Tweed | 5,402 | 18.4 | 2 | |
1929 general election | Bethnal Green South West | 6,849 | 38.7 | 2 | |
1929 general election | Clitheroe | 15,592 | 39.5 | 2 | |
1929 general election | Derby | 39,688 | 30.0 | 1 | |
1929 general election | Leeds South | 18,043 | 52.5 | 1 | |
1929 general election | Lonsdale | 7,303 | 25.4 | 3 | |
1929 general election | Manchester Ardwick | 20,041 | 60.3 | 1 | |
1929 general election | Oldham | 32,727 | 25.0 | 2 | |
1929 general election | Paddington North | 13,348 | 39.3 | 2 | |
1929 general election | Rossendale | 14,624 | 36.0 | 1 | |
1929 general election | Wakefield | 13,393 | 48.8 | 1 | |
1929 general election | Westbury | 7,458 | 22.5 | 3 | |
1929 general election | York | 20,663 | 45.0 | 1 | |
1931 by-election | Ashton-under-Lyne | 11,005 | 39.4 | 2 | |
1931 by-election | Manchester Ardwick | 15,294 | 50.5 | 1 | |
1931 general election | Ashton-under-Lyne | 11,074 | 37.1 | 2 | |
1931 general election | Leeds South | 14,156 | 40.1 | 2 | |
1931 general election | Manchester Ardwick | 15,664 | 42.0 | 2 | |
1931 general election | Middlesbrough West | 13,040 | 33.4 | 2 | |
1931 general election | Oldham | 26,631 | 4 | ||
1931 general election | Plymouth Sutton | 14,073 | 36.7 | 2 | |
1931 general election | Rossendale | 11,135 | 27.5 | 3 | |
1931 general election | Stalybridge and Hyde | 14,251 | 28.1 | 2 | |
1931 general election | Wakefield | 11,774 | 42.6 | 2 | |
1931 general election | York | 16,310 | 35.1 | 2 | |
1933 by-election | Rotherham | 28,767 | 69.1 | 1 | |
1935 by-election | Edinburgh West | 10,462 | 33.9 | 2 | |
1935 general election | Accrington | 21,203 | 45.6 | 2 | |
1935 general election | Barrow-in-Furness | 17,919 | 49.7 | 2 | |
1935 general election | Eccles | 20,055 | 47.3 | 2 | |
1935 general election | Gateshead | 25,804 | 47.3 | 2 | |
1935 general election | Leeds South | 15,223 | 46.0 | 1 | |
1935 general election | Manchester Ardwick | 16,364 | 52.9 | 1 | |
1935 general election | Middlesbrough West | 12,764 | 33.7 | 2 | |
1935 general election | Norwich | 22,055 | 17.8 | 4 | |
1935 general election | Plymouth Sutton | 15,394 | 41.7 | 2 | |
1935 general election | Pontefract | 19,783 | 53.4 | 1 | |
1935 general election | Rotherham | 29,725 | 67.5 | 1 | |
1935 general election | Salford North | 15,272 | 43.4 | 2 | |
1941 by-election | Pontefract | unopposed | N/A | 1 | |
1944 by-election | Sheffield Attercliffe | unopposed | N/A | 1 | |
1945 general election | Acton | 19,950 | 56.1 | 1 | |
1945 general election | Eccles | 23,008 | 51.1 | 1 | |
1945 general election | Exeter | 15,245 | 40.2 | 2 | |
1945 general election | Manchester Ardwick | 14,360 | 64.0 | 1 | |
1945 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | 28,149 | 58.5 | 1 | |
1945 general election | Pontefract | 24,690 | 60.6 | 1 | |
1945 general election | Rotherham | 35,654 | 74.2 | 1 | |
1945 general election | Salford North | 18,327 | 60.5 | 1 | |
1945 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | 23,468 | 81.4 | 1 | |
1945 general election | South Derbyshire | 47,586 | 57.7 | 1 | |
1945 general election | The Hartlepools | 16,502 | 41.2 | 1 | |
1945 general election | The Wrekin | 22,453 | 56.3 | 1 | |
1945 general election | West Stirlingshire | 16,066 | 54.4 | 1 | |
1948 by-election | Glasgow Camlachie | 10,690 | 42.1 | 2 | |
1950 general election | Acton | 21,751 | 49.1 | 1 | |
1950 general election | Birmingham Perry Barr | 23,178 | 56.6 | 1 | |
1950 general election | Eccles | 27,409 | 50.7 | 1 | |
1950 general election | Manchester Wythenshawe | 17,191 | 37.2 | 2 | |
1950 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | 31,230 | 58.2 | 1 | |
1950 general election | Nottingham East | 20,404 | 46.5 | 1 | |
1950 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | 30,726 | 71.6 | 1 | |
1950 general election | South East Derbyshire | 30,039 | 49.1 | 1 | |
1950 general election | The Hartlepools | 25,609 | 50.6 | 1 | |
1950 general election | The Wrekin | 19,730 | 53.7 | 1 | |
1950 general election | Westbury | 15,766 | 35.6 | 2 | |
1950 general election | West Stirlingshire | 19,930 | 55.6 | 1 | |
1951 general election | Acton | 23,287 | 52.2 | 1 | |
1951 general election | Birmingham Perry Barr | 23,322 | 58.1 | 1 | |
1951 general election | Eccles | 27,941 | 52.5 | 1 | |
1951 general election | Haltemprice | 19,584 | 41.9 | 2 | |
1951 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | 31,765 | 57.9 | 1 | |
1951 general election | Nottingham East | 20,865 | 47.8 | 1 | |
1951 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | 29,958 | 71.1 | 1 | |
1951 general election | South East Derbyshire | 33,020 | 52.7 | 1 | |
1951 general election | The Hartlepools | 27,147 | 52.6 | 1 | |
1951 general election | The Wrekin | 20,109 | 52.4 | 1 | |
1951 general election | Westbury | 17,623 | 39.2 | 2 | |
1954 by-election | Haltemprice | 9,974 | 38.2 | 2 | |
1955 general election | Acton | 20,645 | 50.6 | 1 | |
1955 general election | Birmingham Perry Barr | 18,732 | 51.0 | 1 | |
1955 general election | Eccles | 25,351 | 52.4 | 1 | |
1955 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | 25,401 | 55.7 | 1 | |
1955 general election | Nottingham North | 26,552 | 55.4 | 1 | |
1955 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | 33,071 | 71.0 | 1 | |
1955 general election | South East Derbyshire | 25,620 | 51.6 | 1 | |
1955 general election | South Northamptonshire | 17,339 | 44.7 | 2 | |
1955 general election | The Hartlepools | 25,145 | 51.6 | 1 | |
1955 general election | The Wrekin | 18,541 | 49.4 | 2 | |
1955 general election | Westbury | 16,295 | 37.8 | 2 | |
1958 by-election | St Helens | 26,405 | 64.7 | 1 | |
1959 general election | Acton | 18,438 | 48.8 | 2 | |
1959 general election | Birmingham Perry Barr | 16,811 | 42.6 | 1 | |
1959 general election | Darlington | 19,901 | 39.7 | 2 | |
1959 general election | Eccles | 25,566 | 52.0 | 1 | |
1959 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | 28,956 | 54.8 | 1 | |
1959 general election | St Helens | 35,961 | 62.1 | 1 | |
1959 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | 33,676 | 68.8 | 1 | |
1959 general election | South East Derbyshire | 25,362 | 45.5 | 2 | |
1959 general election | The Hartlepools | 25,281 | 49.8 | 2 | |
1964 general election | Birmingham Perry Barr | 18,156 | 49.5 | 2 | |
1964 general election | Carlisle | 19,169 | 45.6 | 1 | |
1964 general election | Glasgow Springburn | 16,828 | 65.3 | 1 | |
1964 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne West | 29,603 | 58.3 | 1 | |
1964 general election | St Helens | 34,137 | 67.0 | 1 | |
1964 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | 30,318 | 66.8 | 1 | |
1964 general election | Sunderland South | 25,900 | 51.6 | 1 | |
1966 general election | Carlton | 24,589 | 39.2 | 2 | |
1966 general election | Carlisle | 22,565 | 56.1 | 1 | |
1966 general election | Glasgow Central | 11,673 | 74.8 | 1 | |
1966 general election | Glasgow Springburn | 15,998 | 67.8 | 1 | |
1966 general election | Nottingham South | 24,580 | 50.3 | 1 | |
1966 general election | St Helens | 33,325 | 70.8 | 1 | |
1966 general election | Sheffield Attercliffe | 32,336 | 77.3 | 1 | |
1966 general election | Sunderland South | 27,567 | 57.5 | 1 | |
1970 general election | Carlisle | 21,866 | 53.2 | 1 | |
1970 general election | Glasgow Central | 7,936 | 66.0 | 1 | |
1970 general election | Glasgow Springburn | 14,968 | 64.3 | 1 | |
1970 general election | Nottingham South | 23,031 | 46.3 | 2 | |
1970 general election | St Helens | 31,587 | 65.7 | 1 | |
1970 general election | Sunderland South | 26,840 | 56.4 | 1 | |
Feb 1974 general election | Carlisle | 23,119 | 55.2 | 1 | |
Feb 1974 general election | Exeter | 17,686 | 31.2 | 2 | |
Feb 1974 general election | Glasgow Central | 9,400 | 58.7 | 1 | |
Feb 1974 general election | Glasgow Springburn | 18,067 | 53.7 | 1 | |
Feb 1974 general election | St Helens | 32,621 | 59.0 | 1 | |
Feb 1974 general election | Sunderland South | 28,296 | 49.6 | 1 | |
Feb 1974 general election | West Bromwich East | 21,895 | 52.8 | 1 | |
Oct 1974 general election | Carlisle | 21,079 | 51.2 | 1 | |
Oct 1974 general election | Glasgow Central | 9,231 | 63.6 | 1 | |
Oct 1974 general election | Glasgow Springburn | 17,444 | 54.6 | 1 | |
Oct 1974 general election | St Helens | 32,620 | 64.1 | 1 | |
Oct 1974 general election | Sunderland South | 28,623 | 55.0 | 1 | |
Oct 1974 general election | West Bromwich East | 19,942 | 50.5 | 1 | |
1976 by-election | Newcastle upon Tyne Central | 4,692 | 47.6 | 1 | |
1979 general election | Carlisle | 21,343 | 49.7 | 1 | |
1979 general election | Derby North | 28,797 | 44.9 | 1 | |
1979 general election | Edinburgh Central | 12,191 | 47.9 | 1 | |
1979 general election | Glasgow Central | 8,542 | 72.5 | 1 | |
1979 general election | Holborn and St Pancras South | 12,026 | 49.3 | 1 | |
1979 general election | Huddersfield West | 16,996 | 40.6 | 2 | |
1979 general election | Islington North | 12,317 | 52.6 | 1 | |
1979 general election | Newcastle upon Tyne Central | 10,395 | 67.3 | 1 | |
1979 general election | St Helens | 32,489 | 59.6 | 1 | |
1979 general election | Sunderland South | 29,403 | 53.1 | 1 | |
1979 general election | Swansea East | 31,909 | 69.9 | 1 | |
1979 general election | West Bromwich East | 19,279 | 47.0 | 1 | |
1979 general election | West Lothian | 36,713 | 54.9 | 1 | |
1983 general election | Carlisle | 15,618 | 37.5 | 1 | |
1983 general election | Crewe and Nantwich | 22,031 | 41.1 | 1 | |
1983 general election | Derby North | 18,797 | 36.8 | 2 | |
1983 general election | Glasgow Garscadden | 19,635 | 56.2 | 1 | |
1983 general election | Holborn and St Pancras | 20,486 | 47.5 | 1 | |
1983 general election | Linlithgow | 19,694 | 45.1 | 1 | |
1983 general election | Livingston | 14,255 | 37.7 | 1 | |
1983 general election | Sunderland South | 22,869 | 45.7 | 1 | |
1983 general election | Swansea East | 22,297 | 54.4 | 1 | |
1983 general election | Tyne Bridge | 21,127 | 56.5 | 1 | |
1983 general election | West Bromwich East | 15,894 | 38.1 | 1 | |
1983 general election | Wrexham | 16,120 | 34.3 | 1 | |
1987 general election | Crewe and Nantwich | 25,457 | 44.0 | 1 | |
1987 general election | Derby North | 20,236 | 37.2 | 2 | |
1987 general election | Glasgow Garscadden | 18,920 | 64.4 | 1 | |
1987 general election | Holborn and St Pancras | 22,966 | 50.6 | 1 | |
1987 general election | Linlithgow | 21,869 | 47.4 | 1 | |
1987 general election | Livingston | 19,110 | 45.6 | 1 | |
1987 general election | Swansea East | 27,478 | 63.7 | 1 | |
1987 general election | West Bromwich East | 18,162 | 42.6 | 1 | |
1987 general election | Wrexham | 22,144 | 43.9 | 1 |