Catalogue Number
NMLH.1993.249
Object Name
Poster
Title
DOCK, WHARF, RIVERSIDE AND GENERAL LABOURERS UNION...VICTORIA & ALBERT DISTRICT. A MASS MEETING...1891. HANDSOME NEWSILK BANNER....WILL BE UNFURLED
Place
London
People
Hardie, K; Burns, J.; Member of Parliament
Date
1891
Description
Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union poster, 1891
The Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General Labourers' Union was founded in 1887 as the Tea Operatives and General Labourers' Association to oppose a cut in wages for workers processing and unloading tea in London. The union was a key part of the New Unionism movement, where unions were established to provide support for unskilled workers, in addition to the 'skilled' unions which had established throughout the 19th century. The union was central to the 1889 Dock Strike, and mebership grew from around 2,500 members to over 30,000. The union membership was mostly made up of 'unskilled' workers in East London. These were workers who did not train for years to develop their trade, such as dockers or factory workers.
This poster advertises a mass meeting for the Victoria and Albert Dock district of the union to be held on July 5th 1891. The poster notes that, during the meeting, a "handsome new silk banner" would be unveiled. This shows the importance of banners to the union movement, which would have been used to signify their strength and importance during strikes, demonstrations, and special occassions. Several speakers are mentioned on the poster, including Tom Mann (then president of the union) and Ben Tillet (then general secretary) who had been influential during the 1899 Dock Strike. Also mentioned is Keir Hardie as Labour Candidate for South West Ham. Hardie became the first 'labour' politician in the Houses of Parliament in 1892, winning the SOuth Ham seat as an independent candidate.
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