The development of Trade Unions in the Newry and Mourne District

Tom Moore

Trade Unions were first formed in the 1740s to promote and protect workers’ interests. Through my own personal family history, I have first-hand experience of their importance to the welfare of workers. On two occasions my father was severely injured while working as a labourer at

Newry Docks, and my mother also suffered poor working conditions as a servant girl.

In May 1889, the 18 locally active Trade Unions agreed to work together in common interest, forming the Newry United Trades Council. Such developments encouraged Trade Unions at a national level and thus emerged the British Trades Union Congress and the Irish Trade Union Congress. The regard in which the Newry body was held, was shown by the ITUC holding its 1903 and 1925 Congresses in Newry.

James Fearon, 1874 – 1924

Newry and Mourne Museum Collection

Born in Castle Street in Newry, James Fearon was a trade union activist in towns and cities throughout Ireland, including Newry. Often called the ‘Third James’, Fearon was a contemporary and friend of James Connolly and James Larkin. The hall of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union in Newry is named after him.

Many stories are told about the courage of local workers and their families in the pursuit of better working conditions. An example is the Newry Dockers’ Strike of 1907, led by James Fearon, organiser of the National Union of Dock Labourers. Newry dockers refused to unload coal boats from Belfast, in support of dock workers in Belfast who had gone on strike after their demand for union recognition was rejected by employers. The Newry action later turned to dealing with local grievances which caused great hardship amongst dockers’ families. James Fearon continued to campaign for workers’ welfare in Newry after the strikes ended in February 1908.

After the grim years of the 1930s and World War II, there was a post-war boom with new industries developing in Newry. This led to further local expansion in trade unions including a branch of the National Federation of Building Trade Operatives for labourers, craftsmen and engineers in the 1950s. The 1960s, 1970s and 1980s saw instances of Trade Union activists leading campaigns on unemployment, welfare rights, protection of health services and trade union recognition.

Closures of local manufacturing firms spurred Trade Union representatives to seek support from local interests and Newry & Mourne Co-Operative was established in 1972 with the objective of promoting and creating jobs.

Following several nights of sectarian murders in the district in January 1976, a protest rally was organised by Newry & District Trades Union Council. This provided impetus for the Northern

Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to publically launch its “Better Life for All” Campaign, a forerunner of the emerging Peace Process.

The government decision in the 1980s to discontinue support for trade union education was exempted in Northern Ireland in recognition of Trade Union work in reducing sectarian tension in the workplace.