National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives explained

National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives
Location Country:United Kingdom
Affiliation:TUC, ITUC, NFBTO
Members:60,754 (1971)
Founded:1947
Dissolved:1971
Merged:Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union
Headquarters:Fairfields, Roe Green, Kingsbury, London
Key People:Alf Tomkins (General Secretary)

The National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives (NUFTO) was a trade union in the United Kingdom representing furniture makers.

The union was founded in 1947 by the merger of the National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association and the Amalgamated Union of Upholsterers. By the 1960s, the union was keen to merge with other in its sector; in 1969, it absorbed the United French Polishers' Society, and the following year, the Midland Glass Bevellers' and Kindred Trades' Society joined.[1]

By 1971, the union had 60,754 members and, that year, it merged with the Amalgamated Society of Woodcutting Machinists to form the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union.

Election results

The union sponsored Labour Party candidates in several Parliamentary elections.

Election Constituency Candidate Votes Percentage Position
12,515 39.1 2
21,046 41.0 2
14,474 66.9 1

General Secretaries

1947 - 1971: Alf Tomkins[2]

References

  1. Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, Historical Directory of British Trade Unions, vol.3, p.332
  2. V. L. Allen, Power in trade unions, p.284