National Union of Domestic Appliances and General Operatives explained

National Union of Domestic Appliances and General Operatives
Location Country:	United Kingdom
Affiliation:	CSEU, GFTU, LMTU, TUC, Labour
Members:	5,500 (1980)^[1]
Founded:	1890
Dissolved:	2006
Merged:	Community
Headquarters:	Imperial Buildings, Rotherham

The National Union of Domestic Appliances and General Operatives (NUDAGO) was a trade union representing metal workers in the United Kingdom, principally in the town of Rotherham. It primarily represented workers employed in manufacturing whitegoods, but also had some membership in foundries and light engineering.^[2]

History

The union was founded in 1890, following a successful strike in the light metal industry in Rotherham, led by the Knights of Labor.^[3] Initially named the National Union of Stove Grate Workers, it gradually recruited members in other parts of Yorkshire, Lancashire and the Midlands, and created a small branch in London. Over time, it expanded its remit, and was renamed the National Union of Stove Grate and General Metal Workers, then as the National Union of Domestic Appliance and General Metal Workers, before adopting its final name.^[4]

Never a large union, by 1979 it had 5,500 members, declining to 2,250 in 1997.^[5]

In 2006, the union merged into Community.

General secretaries

1890s: William Knowles

1909: Alex Hutchison

1928: Adam Bennett

1953: Jack Higham

1979: Reg Preston

1989: Tony McCarthy

References

1. Book: Eaton. Jack. Gill. Colin. The Trade Union Directory. 1981. Pluto Press. London. 0861043502. 75.
2. Book: . Labour Research . 6 . Cornell University . 7 . 2006 .
3. Book: Exton. Jack. Gill. Colin. The Trade Union Directory. 1981. Pluto Press. London. 75.
4. H. J. Fyrth and Henry Collins, The Foundry Workers: a trade union history, p.321
5. Peter Carter and John Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.6, p.307