Newcastle upon Tyne TUC was founded in 1873. Ever since, the Trades Council has been working to unite trades unionists across the City.
In 1890, it was the Trades Council which responded to the international campaign for the Eight Hour Day, and organised Tyneside's first May Day.
In the 1970s, it was the Trades Council which set up Britain's first Centre Against Unemployment , leading to a national network, supported by the Trades Union Congress.
For its centenary, the Trades Council published a history in pamphlet form. More recent history is contained in the Annual Reports presented to the Annual General Meeting held every February. Several are included here, together with the list of delegates who have held the role of President, Secretary and Treasurer, as far back as can be remembered.
We also cherish the memory of stalwart members of Newcastle TUC who have sadly passed away. Follow the link Roll of Honour to read their biographies.
Centenary History
Newcastle and District Trades Council, 1873-1973: Centenary History, was published in 1973.
Links to individual chapters can be found below.
"A very enthusiastic meeting assembled at the Flying Horse Inn, Groat Market, on Saturday, 18th January 1873 and the Newcastle and Gateshead Trades Council was formed. A Patternmaker named Gibson was Chairman and G.L. Atkinson, a printer, became the first secretary. The printers were playing a prominent part and two others were members of the committee, Kidd and Hudson. The only others we know of were a baker named Gladstone and one Brown, a co-operative smith."
NB: Gateshead now has a separate Trades Union Council.
2. Politics and the Trades Council up to about 1900
"Leaders of the Trades Council, as might be expected, showed an early interest in political affairs. This was often confused and frequently there was a rejection of what might be called ‘party politics’ and it seems likely that a few of the early leaders may well have supported the Conservative Party. At this time, in Newcastle, as elsewhere, it was usually the Liberals who enjoyed the support of trade unionists. "
"“The objects of this trades council are, to establish a more intimate relationship between all branches of the operative classes, and for securing increased efficiency to the operation of Trades and Labour Unions, to watch over the interests of Labour in and out of Parliament, and on local bodies, and to support all measures or movements likely to be of advantage and a benefit to the workers generally; to foster and encourage existing societies in trades or occupations not already organised; to render assistance, where desired, to any such affiliated society, either by giving advice, deputations etc, and endorsing and issuing of ‘Appeals’ for assistance on their behalf during times of stress and struggle."
4. Years of struggle and depression, 1918-1939
General Strike, 1926:
“The Trades Council appeals to all workers to stand solidly together and maintain the perfect order that exists. By tonight, we shall have the machine of resistance working with the highest efficiency. The following departments will be set up today: Publicity, Propaganda, Feeding and Sport. The Workers’ Chronicle will appear each day. The workers must obey their unions. All delegates to the Trades Council must get into immediate touch with the secretary. BRING YOUR CYCLES ALONG! STAND FIRM. WE ARE WINNING."
5 War and its aftermath.
6 The nineteen fifties.
7 The last decade.
8 A retrospect.
John Creaby's Address to the 140th AGM, 2023
Annual Reports
2005
2006
2007
2008
Officers
Officers of the Trades Council in living memory are listed below, by the year in which they were elected:
| Year | President | Secretary | Treasurer |
| 2025 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Paul Ford (USDAW) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2024 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) (deceased) / Paul Ford (USDAW) (acting) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2023 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2022 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2021 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2020 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2019 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2018 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2017 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2016 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2015 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2014 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2013 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2012 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2011 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2010 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2009 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite) | Alan Lubbock (Unite) |
| 2008 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Unite-Amicus) | Alan Lubbock (Unite-Amicus) |
| 2007 | Martin Levy (UCU) | Jim Simpkin (Amicus) | Alan Lubbock (Amicus) |
| 2006 | Martin Levy (NATFHE) | Jim Simpkin (Amicus) | Alan Lubbock (Amicus) |
| 2005 | Martin Levy (NATFHE) | Jim Simpkin (Amicus) | Alan Lubbock (Amicus) |
| 2004 | Martin Levy (NATFHE) | Jim Simpkin (Amicus) | Alan Lubbock (Amicus) |
| 2003 | Martin Levy (NATFHE) | Peter Burnett (Amicus-MSF) (res) | Alan Lubbock (Amicus-MSF) |
| Jim Simpkin (Amicus-MSF) | |||
| 2002 | Martin Levy (NATFHE) | Peter Burnett (Amicus-MSF) | Alan Lubbock (Amicus-MSF) |
| 2001 | Martin Levy (NATFHE) | Peter Burnett (MSF) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 2000 | Martin Levy (NATFHE) | Peter Burnett (MSF) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 1999 | Martin Levy (NATFHE) | Joe Scurfield (EQUITY) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 1998 | Martin Levy (NATFHE) | Joe Scurfield (EQUITY) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 1997 | Martin Levy (NATFHE) | Maureen Foster (MSF) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 1996 | Maureen Foster (MSF) | Ron Taylor (NATFHE) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 1995 | Maureen Foster (MSF) | Jimmy Barnes (GPMU) (res) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| Norman Anderson (UNISON) | |||
| 1994 | Maureen Foster (MSF)/ | Martin Spence (BECTU) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| Margaret Sharkey (MSF) | Jimmy Barnes (GPMU) | ||
| 1993 | Margaret Sharkey (MSF)/ | Martin Spence (BECTU) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| Maureen Foster (MSF) | |||
| 1992 | Maureen Foster (MSF)/ | Martin Spence (BECTU) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| Margaret Sharkey (MSF) | |||
| 1991 | Martin Spence (BECTU) | Peter Burnett (MSF) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 1990 | Martin Spence (ACTT) | Ken Ternent (MSF) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 1989 | Berit McFadden (NUT) (res) | Steve Manchee (NALGO) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| Martin Spence (ACTT) | |||
| 1988 | Tommy Gardner (EEPTU) | Steve Manchee (NALGO) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 1987 | Ron Taylor (NATFHE) | Steve Manchee (NALGO) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 1986 | Ron Taylor (NATFHE) | Steve Manchee (NALGO) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
| 1985 | Steve Manchee (NALGO) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) | |
| 1984 | Steve Manchee (NALGO) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) | |
| 1983 | Steve Manchee (NALGO) | Alan Lubbock (MSF) |
Roll of Honour
Throughout the history of Newcastle upon Tyne TUC, many delegates have made an outstanding contribution to the Trades Council and the wider labour movement. Their passing caused us deep grief, but the greatest tribute we can pay is to carry on. What we build now depends strongly on the foundation which they laid for us. To cherish their memory, and learn from their example, we record some biographies here. We hope, in the fullness of time, to add many more to this list.
Dave Atkinson - Read More about Dave
Berit McFadden
Terry Rogers
Joe Scurfield - Read More about Joe
Jim Simpkin - Read More about Jim
Ron Taylor