"banner, National Union of Railwaymen, Rickmansworth" [NBS I/D 339]

Catalogue Number
NBS I/D 339

Object Name
banner

Title
NATIONAL UNION OF RAILWAYMEN RICKMANSWORTH BRANCH THE LIBERATION OF THE WORKING CLASS IS THE ACT OF THE WORKERS THEMSELVES POLITICAL ACTION CO-OPERATIVE COMMONWEALTH INDUSTRIAL ACTION

Place
Rickmansworth & London & England & UK

Date
circa 1920

Creator(s)
NBS National Museum of Labour HistoryNBS National Museum of Labour HistoryGeorge Tutill & Co. (Manufacturer)

Description
The National Union of Railwaymen was formed in 1913 following the merger of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, which was founded in 1871, with the General Railway Workers Union and the United Pointsmen and Signalmen's Society. Rickmansworth is near Watford, northwest of London.

Industrial unionism, sometimes known as syndicalism, believed that manufacture was totally dependent on the workforce. Syndicalists believed that the workers could free themselves from the chains of capitalism through industrial action. Non-syndicalist workers would need to use political action by voting at the ballot box before their chains could be broken, as shown by the figure on the left.

Materials: single layer plain weave silk with oil-painted images occupying the same area on each side. Replacement borders of polyester fabric.

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