Catalogue Number
NMLH.2014.20.15
Object Name
Badge
Description
The National Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union started life in 1906 as the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers and Smallholders Union. It's aims were to "enable the agricultural labourer to secure proper representation on all local bodies and in Imperial Parliament, protection from political persecution and better conditions of living". Until 1909 it dealt mainly with individual cases of victimisation, accidents and disputes and provided legal assistance. In 1912 the union became the The National Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union, extending membership from just farm workers to roadmen, gardeners, carters and navigators, among others. This was also the first time that women were allowed membership of the union. In 1920, with180,000 members, the union changed its name again to the National Union of Agricultural Workers. It became the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers in 1968, but finally amalgamated with the Transport and General Workers
Union in 1981.
In the original collection that was donated to the museum, this badge was labelled as the National Union of Agricultural Workers badge. However, the name given on the badge shows that it was produced in the period between 1912-1920, when the union was known as the The National Agricultural Labourers and Rural Workers Union.
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