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General Federation of Trade Unions
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General Federation of Trade Unions

British labor organization
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Quick Summary

The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) was established in 1899 in Britain as an insurance fund for strikes. It was one of several organizations that emerged to support the growing labor movement, alongside the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Labour Party. The GFTU aimed to provide financial support for unions during industrial disputes.1

While the TUC became the primary representative body for British trade unions, the GFTU focused on providing a safety net for its affiliated unions. The broader landscape of British labor saw the rise of "new" or general unions, such as the Transport and General Workers' Union, which organized workers across various industries, including those previously excluded by craft unions. These general unions, along with organizations like the GFTU, played a significant role in shaping labor relations and advocating for workers' rights throughout the 20th century.123

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. Transport and General Workers’ Union
  2. General Confederation of Labour
  3. Trades Union Congress
  4. organized labour - Union expansion under a voluntary system

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