National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives

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National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives
Merged intoFurniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union
Founded1947
Dissolved1971
HeadquartersFairfields, Roe Green, Kingsbury, London
Location
Members
60,754 (1971)
Key people
Alf Tomkins (General Secretary)
AffiliationsTUC, ITUC, NFBTO

The National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives (NUFTO) was a trade union in the United Kingdom representing furniture makers.

The union was founded in 1947 by the merger of the National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association and the Amalgamated Union of Upholsterers. By the 1960s, the union was keen to merge with other in its sector; in 1969, it absorbed the United French Polishers' Society, and the following year, the Midland Glass Bevellers' and Kindred Trades' Society joined.[1]

By 1971, the union had 60,754 members and, that year, it merged with the Amalgamated Society of Woodcutting Machinists to form the Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union.[1]

Election results[edit]

The union sponsored Labour Party candidates in several Parliamentary elections.

Election Constituency Candidate Votes Percentage Position
1964 general election Newcastle upon Tyne North Sidney Lee 12,515 39.1 2
Nottingham South William Frederick Back 21,046 41.0 2
1970 general election Shoreditch and Finsbury Ronald Brown 14,474 66.9 1

General Secretaries[edit]

1947–1971: Alf Tomkins[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, Historical Directory of British Trade Unions, vol.3, p.332
  2. ^ V. L. Allen, Power in trade unions, p.284