History of the Graphical, Paper and Media Union
There has been over 200 years of union
organisation in the printing and papermaking industries, since the
days when bookbinders (who eventually formed Society of Graphical
and Allied Trades) and compositors (later, key members of the
National Graphical Association), first began their campaigns for
justice in the printing industry in the 18 century.
Two officials of the Manchester based compositors union, the
Typographical Association were instrumental in forming the TUC.
Acting in there roles as President and Secretary of the Manchester
and Salford Trades Council, Mr. H. Wood and Mr. S. Nicholson
initiated the holding of the first Trades Union Congress in 1868.
Print workers were also involved in the establishment of the Labour
Party. In addition print workers were in the vanguard of industrial
action in the newspaper industry during the 1926 General
Strike.
Print and paper workers were the first group of manual workers
to achieve the 40 hour working week, after a six-week strike in
1959. they went on to secure the 37.5-hour week across a whole
printing industry in 1980 and five weeks of annual holiday in 1986.
The printing and paper industries are one of the few sectors in
manufacturing where members are covered by national pay and
conditions agreements with employers organisations across the UK,
Scotland and Ireland.
There were many skilled and specialist unions in the print and
paper industries, most merging with the NGA and Sogat in the 1960s
and 1970s.In 1991 theGraphical, Paper and Media Union (GPMU), was
formed by the merger of Sogat and NGA, representing workers in
print, paper and the media throughout the UK, the Republic of
Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
The GPMU represented and negotiated wages and employment
conditions for employees in all the industries connected with
printing, packaging, newspapers paper and board manufacture,
publishing and media services:
graphic design
electronic pre-press and reproduction
- printing in all sectors
- bookbinding
- print finishing
- ink and roller manufacture
- warehousing and newspaper distribution
- advertising and sales
- electronic communications and media services
The GPMU represented workers in all employment situations in
production, clerical, sales, technical and supervisory areas.
Students in full time education on graphical, media or
communication studies were also able to join the GPMU.
Even during the dark and difficult industrial relations
climate of the Tory governments of the last two decades, which
included some notable industrial disputes, with the collective
strength and fortitude of the GPMU had notable achievements
including maintaining national agreements, playing prominent role
in the TUC, Labour Party, in Europe and the wider international
trade union movement.
We are now proud to be members of Amicus. During 2004, GPMU
members voted to merge with Amicus becoming the Amicus GPM Sector
and helping to create the biggest private sector union in the
UK.
