National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives

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

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 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.

ElectionConstituencyCandidateVotesPercentagePosition
1964 general electionNewcastle upon Tyne NorthSidney Lee12,51539.12
Nottingham SouthWilliam Frederick Back21,04641.02
1970 general electionShoreditch and FinsburyRonald Brown14,47466.91

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