Birmingham and Midland Sheet Metal Workers' Society

The Birmingham and Midland Sheet Metal Workers' Society (BMSMWS) was a trade union representing sheet metal workers in the English Midlands.

Birmingham and Midland Sheet Metal Workers' Society
MottoUnity Means Security
Founded1859
Date dissolved1973
Merged intoNational Union of Sheet Metal Workers, Coppersmiths, Heating and Domestic Engineers
Members8,315 (1968[1])
Head unionNational Amalgamated Association of Tin Plate Workers (1876–1909)
AffiliationTUC
Key peopleJohn Valentine Stevens (Gen Sec)
Office location134 Bromsgrove Street, Birmingham
CountryEngland

The union's origins lay in the Birmingham Tin Plate Workers' Society, which was formed in 1859.[2] In 1876, it merged with the Wolverhampton Tin Plate Workers' Society to form what later became the National Amalgamated Association of Tin Plate Workers. The societies retained much of their independence, particularly in the early years.[3] In 1906, the society renamed itself as the Birmingham Operative Tin-Plate, Sheet Metal Workers and Braziers' Society.[4]

In 1909, the Birmingham society fell into dispute with the National Amalgamated Association over payments to workers involved in disputes. As a result, it left, forming the independent Birmingham and Midland Sheet Metal Workers' Society. This remained independent when all the other sheet metal workers' unions merged into the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers and Braziers, until it finally joined the National Union of Sheet Metal Workers, Coppersmiths, Heating and Domestic Engineers in 1973.[3]

Secretaries
1909: John Valentine Stevens
1920: Charles Brett
1939: Richard Baston
1951: Harry Townsend
1959: Alf Cooper

References
  1. Trades Union Congress, Report of the 1968 Annual Trades Union Congress, p.34
  2. Peter Carter and John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trades Unions, vol.6, p.293
  3. Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.2, pp.105, 117-118
  4. Jisc, "Papers of the Birmingham and Midland Sheet Metal Workers' Society"
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