Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions

Scope and Content

Printed proceedings of annual meetings, 1947-86; printed proceedings of special conferences, 1934-58; Railway Shopmen's National Council minutes, 1928-68 (incomplete); extensive post-war subject files (MSS.44).

Executive Committee minutes (stencilled), 1946-84 (MSS.259/5).

Coventry District minutes, 1940-3 (MSS.126), 1943-81 (MSS.208).

Administrative / Biographical History

The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions was constituted in its present form in 1936 although it has its origins in the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades founded in 1891. A large confederation of nearly two and a half million members by 1977, the Confederation acted as a conduit through which allied Unions and trades could find representation with the Government. The Confederation grew stronger when the Amalgamated Engineering Union affiliated along with the Transport and General Workers' Union; the General and Municipal Workers' Union; the Electrical, Electronic Telecommunications and Plumbing Union; the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers. The CSEU was very successful in forming a working coalition with these Unions with very little friction. One of its achievements included the formal establishment of Joint Shop Stewards' Works Committees

Reference: An introduction to the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions. 1966.

Access Information

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/

Other Finding Aids

Custodial History

The initial deposit on indefinite loan was made in May 1974. Details of this deposit and subsequent accruals are listed below.

Accruals

22nd May 1974 : 120 transfer cases, collected from CSEU office, 140 Walworth Road, London, SE17 [indefinite loan]; 12th June 1974 : 71 transfer cases, collected by unaccompanied van from CSEU office, 140 Walworth Road, London, SE17 [indefinite loan]; 24th August 1976 : printed reports of annual meetings, 1949-60, 1962-4, 1966-8, transferred from Periodicals [Library property].

Related Material

The Centre also holds income and expenditure accounts of the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades, 1923-1929.