Single or Return - the official history of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association

Chronology

1865: A Railway Clerks' Association formed in London.
1890: A Railway Clerks' Association formed in South Wales.
1896: North-Eastern Railway Stationmasters' Association formed. North-Eastern Passenger Clerks' Association formed.
1897: National Association of General Railway Clerks formed in Sheffield. Railway Telegraph Clerks' Association formed.
1898: The RCA launches its Benevolent Fund.
1899: The National Association of General Railway Clerks is renamed Railway Clerks' Association.
1900: RCA registered as a trade union. Parliamentary action taken to safeguard Superannuation Funds and to achieve greater accountability.
1901: Formation of the RCA Scottish Board.
1903: The RCA represented at the formation of the WEA; supports its first Labour candidate in a local election; affiliates to the TUC.
1904: Launch of The Railway Clerk.
1906: TUC and Parliamentary action secures the inclusion of railway salaried staff in Workmen's Compensation Act.
1907: The RCA appoints G.J. Wardle MP to act on its behalf in Parliament; formally agrees to recruit women. Parliamentary action taken to force an Enquiry into Railway Superannuation Funds. RCA affiliates to the International Federation of Shopworkers and Clerks.
1908: Formation of the Socialist Fellowship.
1909: First delegates sent to the Scottish TUC. The RCA affiliates to the Irish TUC. The North-Eastern Railway attempts to crush the RCA.
1910: The RCA affiliates to the Labour Party and establishes its Parliamentary Fund; calls for the nationalisation of the railways; formation of the South Wales Divisional Council; the first woman member; Irish Divisional Council established.
1911: The Railway Telegraph Clerks' Association joins the RCA. Parliamentary action secures the exemption of railway salaried staff from National Health Insurance Act.
1912: The first Labour RCA member appointed as a Parliamentary candidate. RCA delegation visits the continent to make contact with railway unions.
1913: The RCA confirms its support for a Political Fund.
1914: The RCA calls for the nationalisation of railways, mines and other means of production, distribution and exchange.
1915: First woman member attends the RCA Annual Conference.
1916: First RCA National Women's Conference. Parliamentary action to halt the intimidation of women clerks on the Great Central and London & South Western Railways.
1917: The RCA calls for the building of a Channel Tunnel; establishes a Parliamentary Panel; formation of the London Political Advisory Committee; first National Conference of Railway Agents and Stationmasters.
1918: The RCA contests its first Parliamentary seats; first member elected to Parliament; develops a National Transport Bill; Scottish Advisory Council established; 99.9 per cent of the membership contribute to the Political Fund.
1919: The RCA achieves recognition by the railway companies; The Railway Clerk renamed The Railway Service Journal. The first national male pay agreement. The RCA asks W. Graham MP to act on its behalf in Parliament.
1920: The RCA affiliates to the National Federation of Professional Workers. The first national female pay agreement.
1921: A new Machinery of Consultation established.
1922: The first RCA members elected to Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann.
1923: The RCA sends its first fraternal delegation to a continental trade union conference. BANS reciprocates.
1924: The RCA affiliates to the International Transport Workers' Federation. The first Labour RCA member elected to Parliament.
1926: The General Strike.
1927: The RCA establishes a National Women's Organising Committee.
1928: First woman member elected to a local council.
1929: Parliamentary action taken to stop victimisation of members following the 1926 General Strike; members appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretaries; submission to the Royal Commission on Transport.
1930: First woman member elected to the EC.
1932: First woman member appointed JP.
1935: The RCA affiliates to the British Workers' Sports Association.
1936: The RCA supports non-intervention in the Spanish Civil War.
1938: The RCA abandons policy of non-intervention.
1939: Recognition achieved at Wordie and Co. Ltd.
1940: An RCA member joins the Irish Government's All Party Committee of Defence. The Antwerp, Guernsey and Jersey members seek refuge after being attacked by German forces. Recognition won at D. MacBrayne Ltd.
1942: Formation of the Glasgow Political Advisory Committee. Recognition won at Messrs. Pickford Ltd.
1943: Formation of the National Joint Committee of Railway Unions.
1944: Recognition won for P&T Grades.
1945: Formation of the Merseyside Political Advisory Committee; first member to receive the TUC Gold Medal; fifteen members elected to Parliament; the first member appointed to the House of Lords.
1946: RCA member becomes the first elected President of the Scottish TUC Youth Advisory Council; first national RCA Youth Conference held.
1947: First member appointed to the Privy Council.
1948: RCA member appointed to the Road Transport Executive.
1949: RCA member appointed to the Board of the British European Airways Corporation; The Lynskey Tribunal. The Executive Committee restructured.
1950: A woman member contests a Parliamentary seat for the first time; two members elected consecutively as Leader of the Irish Labour Party.
1951: The RCA becomes the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association and the Railway Service Journal becomes the Transport Salaried Staff Journal.
1953: TSSA member appointed to the Board of the Great Northern Railway.
1954: First TSSA member appointed as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Irish Government; first Irish Biennial Conference.
1956: Equal Pay achieved on BR; new BR Machinery of Negotiation and Consultation.
1958: Walkden House opens.
1960: First black delegates elected to Annual Conference.
1964: First TSSA member to hold Cabinet rank.
1967: TSSA contributions deducted from the employers' paybill.
1970: BR and LT introduce "Closed Shop" for most employees.
1972: The TSSA and the Industrial Relations Court. Privatisation begins.
1976: CIE introduces "Closed Shop".
1978: First Asian member elected as a Labour Councillor.
1980: First Worker Director elected.
1982: First black TSSA Executive Committee member elected.
1983: The TSSA sponsors two Labour MPs to look after its Parliamentary interests.
1984: Executive Committee restructured.
1985: TSSA agrees to retain its Political Fund. Bus Deregulation begins.
1986: TSSA affiliates to the CSEU.
1987: First woman elected as National Treasurer.
1991: First Asian member elected as Mayor.
1993: First woman elected as President; first Triennial Irish Conference. New BR Machinery of Negotiation and Consultation.
1994: TSSA agrees to retain its Political Fund.