Manchester Unity of Operative Bricklayers' Society

This collection contains: rule books, 1895-1908; executive council minutes, 1918-1926; financial records, 1907-1927; membership records, 1867-1922; annual reports of the 'Friendly / United Operative Bricklayers' Society' , 1868-1918; 'Monthly Report and Trade Journal', 1902-1921; lists of Liverpool Lodge members' contributions, 1897-1918.

The Friendly Operative Bricklayers' Trade Protection Society (Manchester Order) was formed in 1848 after divisions in the Operative Society of Bricklayers led to a split between the Manchester and London branches of the society. It was successively renamed the United Operative Bricklayers' Trade, Accident and Burial Society of Great Britain and Ireland (Manchester Order) in 1875, the United Operative Bricklayers' Trade, Accident, Sick and Burial Society of Great Britain and Ireland (Manchester Order) in 1893, the Manchester Unity of Operative Bricklayers' Trade, Accident, Sick and Burial Society of Great Britain and Ireland in 1897, and the Manchester Unity of Operative Bricklayers' Accident, Sick and Burial Society of Great Britain and Ireland in 1915. In 1921 it amalgamated with the Operative Society of Masons, Quarrymen and Allied Trades of England and Wales and the Operative Bricklayers' Society (London Order) to form the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers.

Reference: R.W. Postgate, 'The builders' history' (London: National Federation of Building Trade Operatives, 1923).

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Link to full catalogue: http://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/MOB

The Manchester Unity of Operative Bricklayers' Society's papers form part of the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians' (UCATT) archive. The initial deposit was made in 1974 and accruals are listed under the entry for the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (MSS.78/UC).