Co-operative Secretaries Association (CSA)National Co-operative Managers Association (NCMA)National Union of Co-operative Officials (NUCO)National Association of Co-operative Officials (NACO)

The creation of the National Association of Co-operative Officials (NACO) on 1 Jan 1971 was the result of the merger of three associations created in the early part of the 20th century. The Co-operative Secretaries Association (CSA) was formed in March 1908 and registered as a co-operative in autumn 1909. The CSA was formed as a professional association to provide support and guidance to those who worked as secretaries within co-operative societies.

The National Co-operative Managers' Association (NCMA) was created after an idea was proposed at a meeting of the Central Education Committee on 21 Jan 1911 about the formation of a national managers' association. The first meeting of the NCMA was held in Manchester 14 August 1912 and the association was registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act on 21st December 1912. The NCMA provided professional support to those working as managers within co-operative societies.

At the suggestion of the NCMA a joint meeting was held at Manchester in November 1916 where it was decided to formulate rules for a National Union of Co-operative Officials (NUCO), which would provide support to professionals and managers working within co-operatives. Several meetings were held and the draft rules were agreed on 26 May 1917 when the organisation was registered as a trade union.

All three organisations worked closely together and between 1919 and 1968 they produced a joint journal, 'The Co-operative Official'. After 1968 'The Co-operative Official' appeared as a supplement within the 'Co-operative Marketing and Management Journal'.

In light of economies of scale and the traditional culture of co-operative mergers, the CSA, NCMA and NUCO all voted unanimously to merge at their individual Annual General Meetings held in June 1969. On 25 May 1970 NCMA and CSA both decided to go into voluntary liquidation, as each group had a different legal standing, a transfer of engagements could not take place so NCMA and CSA were wound up. The National Association of Co-operative Officials (NACO) was officially formed on 1 Jan 1971. NACO is still in operation today as a trade union for staff in the co-operative sector and has 2,500 members.

From the guide to the Records of the National Association of Co-operative Officials, 1911- 2003, (National Co-operative Archive)