Trade union membership cards

Trade union membership cards are and were important documents. They carried the member’s name and sometimes membership number in a prominent position, and in a pre-computer era they typically had space to record the member’s weekly or monthly subscription payments, certifying that they were in good standing with the union – and thus qualified for the benefits of being a member.

In addition, they might record the branch to which the member belonged, along with details of the branch secretary and where they could be found. Such cards, often carried in a wallet or pocket, would normally be valid for a given year or perhaps quarter before being replaced, so it is usually easy to date them. The amount of wear and tear on surviving cards such as those shown here is a clear indication that they were kept at hand by their owner rather than being consigned to a drawer at home.

Especially when the union had a closed shop agreement which meant everyone who wanted to work there had to be a member, a new employee might need their card to establish that they were qualified and a member of the appropriate organisation. This could be especially important for those whose jobs took them ‘tramping’ from town to town in search of employment and who might need help from the local branch and its members.