President of the Trades Union Congress


The president of the Trades Union Congress is a prominent but largely honorary position in British trade unionism.

History

Initially, the post of president was elected at the annual Trades Union Congress itself, and would serve just for the duration of the congress. Early standing orders stated that preference had to be given to a candidate from the city where the congress was being held; they were not necessarily well-known figures.
In 1900, the standing orders were changed to state that the presidency would be filled by the person who had chaired the Parliamentary Committee over the previous year. As a result, before 1900, numerous people served as chair of the Parliamentary Committee without becoming president; after this date, presidents were prominent figures in the national trade union movement. The Parliamentary Committee was replaced by the General Council in 1921, and the system continued.
There were still rare occasions where the chair did not become president. Margaret Bondfield, who was elected as chair in 1923, resigned to accept a government post before becoming president. George Isaacs, who was elected as chair in 1944, similarly resigned to accept a government post, and was replaced by the vice-president, Ebby Edwards, who had presided over the previous year's congress.
In recent years, the president has once more been elected at the annual congress, but now officially fills the office for the remainder of the year and then presides over the following year's conference.

Presidents to 1899

YearNameUnion
1868Manchester and Salford Trades Council
1869Flint Glass Makers Friendly Society
1871London Working Men's Association
1872Organised Trades Association
1873Leeds Trades Council
1874Sheffield Federated Trades Council
1875Liverpool Trades Council
1875Scottish Typographical Association
1876Newcastle Trades Council
1877Leicester Trades Council
1878Bristol Trades Council
1879Edinburgh and District Trades Council
1880Friendly Society of Ironfounders
1881Operative Bricklayers' Society
1882Amalgamated Society of Engineers
1883Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers
1884Aberdeen Trades Council
1885Typographical Association
1886Typographical Association
1887Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners
1888Yorkshire United Skip, Basket and Hamper Makers Society
1889Dundee Trades Council
1890General Union of Carpenters and Joiners
1891Northumberland Miners' Association
1892British Steel Smelters Association
1893Typographical Association
1894Amalgamated Society of Engineers
1895Associated Shipwrights' Society
1896Edinburgh Trades Council
1897National Amalgamated Association of Tin Plate Workers of Great Britain
1898Amalgamated Union of Cabinet Makers
1899Typographical Association

Presidents from 1900

YearNameUnion
1900National Amalgamated Society of House and Ship Painters
1901London Society of Compositors
1902River Thames Barge Builders Trades Union
1903National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives
1904Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants
1905National Union of Dock Labourers
1906United Society of Boilermakers
1907Bolton Cotton Spinners Association
1908Northern Counties Amalgamated Association of Weavers
1909Northern Counties Amalgamated Association of Weavers
1910Miners Federation of Great Britain
1911Amalgamated Association of Card and Blowing Room Operatives
1912National Union of Gas Workers and General Labourers
1913Amalgamated Society of Brassworkers
1915National Amalgamated Union of Shop Assistants, Warehousemen and Clerks
1916National Transport Workers Federation
1917United Society of Boilermakers
1918Northern Counties Amalgamated Association of Weavers
1919Postmen's Federation
1920National Union of Railwaymen
1921National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives
1922National Union of Agricultural Workers
1923Musicians Union
1924National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association
1925Amalgamated Engineering Union
1926Iron and Steel Trades Confederation
1927Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers
1928National Union of Textile Workers
1929Transport and General Workers Union
1930Transport and General Workers Union
1931National Union of General and Municipal Workers
1932Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen
1933Railway Clerks' Association
1934National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
1935National Union of Gold, Silver and Allied Trades
1936United Patternmakers Association
1937Transport and General Workers Union
1938National Union of Clerks and Administrative Workers
1939National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers
1940National Union of Agricultural Workers
1941Mental Hospital and Institutional Workers Union
1942Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers
1943National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
1944Miners Federation of Great Britain
1945National Union of Mineworkers
1946National Union of General and Municipal Workers
1947Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen
1948Transport and General Workers Union
1949National Union of Mineworkers
1950National Union of General and Municipal Workers
1951National Association of Card, Blowing and Ring Room Operatives
1952Transport and General Workers Union
1953National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees
1954Amalgamated Engineering Union
1955Union of Post Office Workers
1956United Patternmakers Association
1957National Union of General and Municipal Workers
1958National Union of Seamen
1959London Typographical Society
1960Confederation Of Health Service Employees
1961United Society of Boilermakers
1962Clerical and Administrative Workers Union
1963National Union of General and Municipal Workers
1964Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers
1965National Union of Agricultural Workers
1966National Union of Blastfurnacemen, Ore Miners, Coke Workers and Kindred Trades
1967Iron and Steel Trades Confederation
1968Amalgamated Weavers' Association
1969National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
1970National Union of Railwaymen
1971National Union of General and Municipal Workers
1972Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians
1973National Association of Colliery Overmen, Deputies and Shotfirers
1974Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
1975Transport and General Workers Union
1976Inland Revenue Staff Federation
1977Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers
1977Transport and General Workers Union
1978National Union of General and Municipal Workers
1979Union of Post Office Workers
1980Fire Brigades Union
1981National Union of Public Employees
1982Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians
1983Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union
1984Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen
1985General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union
1986Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section
1987National Union of Teachers
1988Manufacturing, Science and Finance
1989Inland Revenue Staff Federation
1990National and Local Government Officers Association
1991GMB Union
1992National Union of Public Employees
1993Union of Communication Workers
1994National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers
1995Banking, Insurance and Finance Union
1996Transport and General Workers Union
1997Graphical, Paper and Media Union
1998GMB Union
1999Unison
2000Unison
2001Transport and General Workers Union
2002Communication Workers Union
2003National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
2004Amicus
2005Communication Workers Union
2006Unison
2007Unison
2008Unison
2009GMB Union
2010Unite
2011Community
2012GMB Union
2013Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
2014Unite
2015Prospect
2016Unison
2017Association of Teachers and Lecturers
2018University and College Union
2019Public and Commercial Services Union
2020Accord
2021Unite
2022Prospect
2023Communication Workers' Union
2024Fire Brigades Union
2025Nautilus International
2026POA