Clerk's Union

The National Union of Clerks formed in 1890 and the minute books for the Hull branch are from this early period in the history of this trade union. It amalgamated with the small Clerks' Union in 1897 and annual conferences were held alternately in Leeds and London. In 1907 it joined the Trades Union Council and affiliated with the Labour Party. By 1910 there were over 2500 members in 100 branches. The words `and Administrative Workers' were added to the title of the union in 1920. An attempt at Guild Socialism was abandoned in 1932. Herbert H Elvin (1874-1949) was general secretary from 1910 until 1941 in which years the union amalgamated with the Association of Women Clerks and Secretaries under the new name of the Clerical and Administrative Workers Union covering a membership of 20,000. In 1972 the name changed to the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff (Marsh & Ryan, Historical directory of trade unions, i, pp.34-5; Bellamy & Saville, Dictionary of labour biography, vi, pp. 105-9).