National Union of Dock Labourers

The National Union of Dock Labourers (NUDL) was a trade union in the United Kingdom. It was formed in Glasgow in 1889 but moved its headquarters to Liverpool within a few years and was thereafter most closely associated with Merseyside. The union retained a strong presence in a number of Scottish ports but closed its Glasgow branch in 1910 and was replaced locally by the Scottish Union of Dock Labourers, which was formed during the seamen's and dockers strikes of 1911. In Ireland, the NUDL was largely replaced by the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union after 1908.

The NUDL, by this time renamed the National Union of Dock, Riverside and General Workers in Great Britain and Ireland, joined the Transport and General Workers' Union before the end of 1922, although its membership had originally voted not to join the amalgamation earlier in the year. It was therefore not actually a founder member of the TGWU, although it is often falsely credited as being one.

Famous quotes containing the words national, union, dock and/or labourers:

    Let us put an end to self-inflicted wounds. Let us remember that our national unity is a most priceless asset. Let us deny our adversaries the satisfaction of using Vietnam to pit Americans against Americans.
    Gerald R. Ford (b. 1913)

    The old ideals are dead as nails—nothing there. It seems to me there remains only this perfect union with a woman—sort of ultimate marriage—and there isn’t anything else.
    —D.H. (David Herbert)

    You turn
    To speak to someone beside the dock and the lighthouse
    Shines like garnets. It has become a stricture.
    John Ashbery (b. 1927)

    The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.
    Bible: New Testament Jesus, in Matthew, 9:37.

    Jesus, on the lack of proselytizers to the multitude, before sending out his apostles endowed with healing powers. Also in Luke 10:2, “The harvest truly is great ......”