Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union

The Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers & Small Holders Union was established at a conference of Norfolk agricultural workers at the Angel Hotel, North Walsham on 20 July 1906.

Its Secretary was George Edwards (later MP); President George Nicholls MP; Treasurer Richard Winfrey MP and an Executive Committee composed of J.Binder, J. Sage, William G. Codling, Herbert Day, J. Bly, C.Holman, J. Stibbins.

George Edwards was appointed as Secretary on 13 shillings a week.

The first three branches of the union were at St Faith's, Norfolk (stronghold of Joseph Arch's old National Agricultural Labourers Union and Kinninghall, Norfolk and Shipham, Norfolk.

In 1910 major strikes and disputes broke out in the Norfolk villages of Trunch, Knapton and St Faith's.

At St Faith's, the 105 union men were on strike from May 1910 until February 1911 for 1 shilling a week extra

The union first changed its name in 1910 to The National Agricultural Labourers & Rural Workers Union and later in 1920 to the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers; in 1982 this became the Agricultural Section of the Transport and General Workers' Union.

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* "Sharpen the Sickle" Reg Groves