The Union was founded as the Amalgamated Society of Engineers in 1851 by the coming together of a number of separate organisations for mechanics, smiths, millwrights, engineers and machinists. A number of other, mainly local, organisations joined between 1893 and 1915. In 1920 nine other unions (the Steam Engine Makers Society, the United Machine Workers Association, the United Kingdom Society of Amalgamated Smiths and Strikers, the Associated Brassfounders, Turners, Fitters, Finishers and Coppersmiths Society, the North of England Brass Turners, Fitters, and Finishers Society, the London United Metal Turners, Fitters and Finishers Society, the East of Scotland Brassfounders Society, the Amalgamated Instrument Makers Society and the Amalgamated Society of General Toolmakers, Engineers and Machinists) joined the ASE to form the Amalgamated Engineering Union. In 1944 the Amalgamated Society of Glass Works Engineers amalgamated with the Union; in 1945 the Amalgamated Society of Vehicle Builders, Carpenters and Mechanics; in 1956 the Amalgamated Machine, Engine and Iron Grinders and Glaziers Society; in 1958 the Leeds Spindle and Flyer Makers Trade and Friendly Society; in 1962 the United Operative Spindle and Flyer Makers Trade and Friendly Society; in 1965 the Turners, Fitters and Instrument Makers Union (Scotland); in 1967 the National Union of Foundry Workers. In 1967 the Union changed its name to the Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers (AEFW). In 1970 the Draughtsmen and Allied Technicians' Association amalgamated with the Union and the Constructional Engineering Union to become the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers (AUEW). It was organised in sections: the Technical and Supervisory Section; the Constructional Section; the Foundry Section; and the Engineering Section. In 1976 Amalgamated Springworkers and Allied Trades amalgamated with the Union. In 1983 the British Roll Turners' Trade Society amalgamated with the Union. The AUEW amalgamation was not successful and in 1985 the Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Section left the amalgamation. The Construction and Foundry Sections transferred their engagements to the Engineering Section and the Union was renamed the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers - Engineering, Foundry and Construction Section. The union changed its name to the Amalgamated Engineering Union in May 1986. The AEU and the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunication and Plumbing Union joined to form the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union on the 1st May 1992.
Reference: J.B. Jeffreys, The Story of the Engineers (London, 1945; repr. 1970).
From the guide to the Papers of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, 1920-1984, (Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick Library)
