The National Union of Vehicle Builders (NUVB) was a trade union in the United Kingdom. The NUVB represented a mixture of skilled and unskilled workers in the automotive industry.
History The union was formed in 1834 as the United Kingdom Society of Coachmakers, adopting the name National Union of Vehicle Builders in 1919. In 1920, the London and Provincial Coachmakers, the Operative Coachmakers' Federal Union, and the Coachmen and Vicesmiths' Trade Society joined the union, while the Amalgamated Wheelwrights, Smiths and Kindred Trades Union joined in 1923."Vehicle Builders' Amalgamation", Manchester Guardian, 28 November 1923
In 1934, the union had 20,439 members, divided into 150 branches. The union's increase in dues was the basis for the 1950 court case Edwards v Halliwell. It merged with the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) in 1972, forming a new automotive trade group within the TGWU.
Election results The union sponsored Labour Party candidates in several Parliamentary elections.
Election Constituency Candidate Votes Percentage Position 1918 general election Swindon 8,393 39.9 2 1922 general election Swindon 11,502 43.6 2 1923 general election Manchester Gorton 16,080 60.0 1 1924 general election Manchester Gorton 16,383 56.0 1 1929 general election Manchester Gorton 22,056 61.1 1 1931 general election Manchester Gorton 16,316 42.3 2 1935 general election Manchester Gorton 20,039 55.9 1 1955 general election Chertsey 14,656 38.9 2 1959 general election Kirkcaldy Burghs 25,428 58.3 1 1964 general election Kirkcaldy Burghs 24,263 60.0 1 1966 general election Kirkcaldy Burghs 23,273 59.6 1 1970 general election Kirkcaldy Burghs 22,986 56.0 1
General Secretaries 1900s: W. J. Clouter 1914: James Nicholson 1935: Harry Halliwell 1953: F. S. Winchester 1962: Alf Roberts 1968: Gabrielis Gallus 1971: Granville Hawley (acting)
See also Transport and General Workers' Union TGWU amalgamations
References
External links Catalogue of the NUVB archives, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick