Bronze Age Gold from Wales

A rectangular piece of light blue card, folded in the middle, with lettering printed in black ink on front, back, and centre. The writing on the membership is in Welsh.

This membership card records the subscription paid by a quarryman each week to the Transport a General Worker’s Union (North Wales Quarrymen’s Branch). The subscription contributions are recorded in the centre of the membership card, and are divided into four quarters. Each quarter is then subdivided into thirteen weeks a quarter. On the back of the membership card there is a list of four main benefits entitled to the members of the union. Members were entitled to benefits during strikes or lock outs; after suffering an accident; at death; and legal support. Three rules regarding membership and membership fees are listed on the back of the card. The membership card belonged to Mr Goronwy Owen Williams, and records his Union subscription for 1952. Mr Goronwy Owen Williams was a quarryman at Dinorwig Quarry, and worked at ponciau Hafod Owen and Harriet during the 1950’s. He worked in partnership with his father, Ifan Williams, and brother, Richard Williams.

Trade Unionism has a strong link with the north Wales quarrying communities - The North Wales Quarrymen’s Union was established in 1874. It merged with the Transport and General Workers’ Union in 1923.