The Manchester Unity of Bricklayers, also known as the Manchester Unity of Operative Bricklayers Society (MUOBS) and the United Operative Bricklayers' Trade Protection Society, was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits (s ...

representing bricklayers in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. The union originated from a split in the

Operative Society of Bricklayers The Operative Bricklayers' Society (OBS) was a British New Model Trade Union based in London. History The society was founded in 1818 as the London Bricklayers' Society, but by 1829 had developed into a national operative union. By the 1840s ...

in 1848, although it dated its own formation from various dates between 1829 and 1833, seeing itself as a direct continuation of the former organisation. Despite its name, it was never restricted to Manchester, instead operating throughout the United Kingdom. Initially, it had around 1,000 members, as did the rival

London Order of Bricklayers The Operative Bricklayers' Society (OBS) was a British New Model Trade Union based in London. History The society was founded in 1818 as the London Bricklayers' Society, but by 1829 had developed into a national operative union. By the 1840s ...

, but this fluctuated significantly, peaking at 8,033 in 1877, but falling to only 1,275 in 1887, reaching 4,300 again in 1899, but dropping back to only 1,655 in 1910.Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.3, pp.39-40 The union devoted much of its efforts to welfare benefits, although it also campaigned for limits on the number of

apprenticeship Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners to gain a ...

s, and against hourly pay. After many years of rivalry and negotiations with the London Order, the two finally merged in 1921, when they were also joined by the Operative Society of Masons in forming the

Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers The Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers (AUBTW) was a British trade union. History The AUBTW was founded in 1921 when the Operative Society of Masons, Quarrymen and Allied Trades of England and Wales, the Operative Bricklayers' Society ...

General Secretaries

:to 1844: Sam Law :1844: John C. LockettTrade Union Ancestors,
Friendly Society of Operative Stonemasons
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006013910/http://www.unionancestors.co.uk/friendly-society-of-operative-stonemasons/ , date=2016-10-06 " :c.1860: M. J. O'Neill :1868: George Houseley :1890: George H. Clarke :1914: John Gregory

References

External links

Catalogue of the MUOBS archives
held at the

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick The Modern Records Centre (MRC) is the specialist archive service of the University of Warwick in Coventry, England, located adjacent to the Central Campus Library. It was established in October 1973 and holds the world's largest archive collecti ...

Trade unions established in the 1840s Trade unions disestablished in 1921 Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom 1848 establishments in the United Kingdom Bricklayers' trade unions British builders