Identity Statement
| Title | Cork Council of Trade Unions |
| Archive Reference | IE CCCA/U216 |
| Web Link to this Entry | https://iar.ie/archive/cork-council-of-trade-unions |
| Creation Dates | 1915-1988 |
| Level of Description | Fonds |
| Extent Medium | 36 items (6 boxes) |
Context
Creator(s): Cork Council of Trade Unions and predecessor bodies Cork Workers Council and Cork District Trades Council.
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Administrative History ↴
Umbrella organisation for trade unions in Cork. In June 1960, Cork Workers Council merged with the Cork Council of Irish Unions to form the Cork Council of Trade Unions. In 1962, the Council represented 35,000 members in 41 branches/units. Precursor bodies included Cork District Trades Council and Cork Labour and Trades Council that merged to form the Cork and District Trade and Labour Council in c. Nov. 1916. This body was renamed Cork and District Workers' Council in c.1925, and was based at the Mechanics’ Hall, Grattan Street and later at Father Mathew Quay. It was later known as Cork Workers Council. -
Archival History ↴
Deposited by Cork Council of Trade Unions in 1974, 1983, 1986, 2002 -
Immediate Source Acquisition ↴
Donation
Content & Structure
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Scope & Content: Cork Council of Trade Unions and predecessor bodies Cork Workers Council and Cork District Trades Council. ↴
Minutes of Cork District Trades Council, Aug 1915 – Oct 1916
Minutes of Cork and District Workers’ Council / Cork Workers Council, 1925- 1960
Minutes of Cork Council of Trade Unions, 1960-1988.
Annual reports of Cork Council of Trade Unions, 1976 – 1985
Secretary’s incoming correspondence, 1925 -29, 1931-34, 1946.
The collection is a major source of information on the history of Cork, the minute books in particular documenting the discussion of various topics relevant to the labour movement, such as union organisation, strikes and industrial relations, terms and conditions of employment, unemployment and poverty, cases of hardship, wages, prices of necessities, government employment schemes, support for local businesses and trades, emigration, working class and social housing, inter-union co-operation and disputes, vocational training, local services and investment.
Also documented in the collection is the political engagement of the Council at both local and national levels in representing their members, including involvement with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, support for the Labour Party, and engagement with officials such as the City Manager and the Lord Mayor locally and figures such as government ministers and Taoisigh nationally.
The collection helps to document the response of the labour movement to the social and economic conditions experienced by workers and communities, as well the response to local, national and international events such as, the closure of the Ford and Dunlop factories in Cork, excessive taxation of PAYE workers, Ireland’s accession to the EEC, and the troubles in Northern Ireland.
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Appraisal Destruction ↴
Permanent Retention -
Accruals ↴
Expected -
Arrangement ↴
1. Minute Books 1915 -1916, 1925 – 1988 (23 items)
2. Annual Reports 1976 – 1985 (10 items)
3. Secretary’s Incoming Correspondence Files 1925 – 29, 1931 – 34, 1946 (3 files)
Conditions of Access & Use
| Access Conditions | Open for research by appointment by those holding a current readers ticket. |
| Creation Dates | 1915-1988 |
| Level of Description | Fonds |
| Extent Medium | 36 items (6 boxes) |
| Material Language Script | English |
| Finding Aids | Descriptive list. Some later minute books contain an index Archive Web Link → |
Allied Materials
| Related Material | CCCA: Various local trade union records, including Stonemasons, Plasterers, Plumbers, Coopers, Engineers, Typographers, Sheetmetal workers, ITGWU. Elsewhere: Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Dublin. Irish Labour History Museum |
Descriptive Control Area
| Archivist Note | Brian McGee |
| Rules/Conventions | ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000. |
| Date of Descriptions | Jun-11 |