Trade Union subscriptions

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   I have recently received a number of East German TU subscription stamp books. The Free German Trade Union Confederation ( FDGB ) existed from just after WWII until just before reunification. It was an umberalla organisation for many specific trade unions.
Subscription payments were validated by a small stamp (15mm x 9mm early versions or 24mm x 10mm later) stuck into a hardcover booklet. It ssems to be one payment per month. Different values have different colours of basic designs, but the actual value is more like an overprint in black, blue or red. 
Additionally there were Solidaritat stamps of 1DM or 50pf which proclaimed solidarity with workers across the world. It is these that are most numerous in design. Early booklets had space for these at the back, while later they were placed next to the suibscription stamps.
When or if I have time I will see if I can put together a sort of simplified list of the different stamps I have in these booklet, but here is a sample of them from the 1950s and the 1960s

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Steve Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Unhinged Joined: 26 March 2010 Location: Wrexham Status: Offline Points: 3417	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steve Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Trade Union subscriptions Posted: 04 January 2019 at 07:11
	I have recently received a number of East German TU subscription stamp books. The Free German Trade Union Confederation ( FDGB ) existed from just after WWII until just before reunification. It was an umberalla organisation for many specific trade unions. Subscription payments were validated by a small stamp (15mm x 9mm early versions or 24mm x 10mm later) stuck into a hardcover booklet. It ssems to be one payment per month. Different values have different colours of basic designs, but the actual value is more like an overprint in black, blue or red. Additionally there were Solidaritat stamps of 1DM or 50pf which proclaimed solidarity with workers across the world. It is these that are most numerous in design. Early booklets had space for these at the back, while later they were placed next to the suibscription stamps. When or if I have time I will see if I can put together a sort of simplified list of the different stamps I have in these booklet, but here is a sample of them from the 1950s and the 1960s
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Admin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 24 March 2010 Status: Offline Points: 366	Post Options Post Reply Quote Admin Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 February 2019 at 22:29
	I particularly like the Green 50PF FDGB design where the word 'SOLIDARITAT' bends around the bottom of the layout...
	I began this forum as a place to discuss and share ALL cinderella stamps. It is my first forum and is not perfect BUT I will endeavour to make it the best available. Any positive help appreciated!

Daniel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Mint Joined: 30 March 2010 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 1112	Post Options Post Reply Quote Daniel Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 December 2021 at 09:12
	A Czechoslovakian ROH, Revolučni Odborové Hnuti (Revolutionary Trade Union Movement) membership card/booklet. Used for union dues from 1984 up to 1989, its formal demise was in 1990. The ROH was the monopolistic trade union in communist Czechoslovakia and membership was effectively obligatory. Czechoslovakia returned to a liberal democracy in November 1989. The card was issued to Frantisek Drahosa who was born in Prague in 1942. Showing pages with membership stamps, some with additional 'Sign of Solidarity' stamps, up to the final stamps of 1989. Scan_20210504 (2) by Daniel, on Flickr Scan_20210504 by Daniel, on Flickr

HalfpennyYellow Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Unmounted Joined: 05 December 2012 Location: Malta Status: Offline Points: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote HalfpennyYellow Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 May 2023 at 05:57
	There is an excellent website about East German trade union stamps (and other cinderellas) here: https://www.ddr-spendenmarken.de/

Daniel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Mint Joined: 30 March 2010 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 1112	Post Options Post Reply Quote Daniel Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 August 2023 at 05:17
	I've picked up a few of the FDGB Union Solidarity stamps. Here are some of them:

Daniel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Mint Joined: 30 March 2010 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 1112	Post Options Post Reply Quote Daniel Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 August 2023 at 05:38
	National Association of Theatrical Television and Kine Employees (NATTKE) Contribution Stamps - Union Dues Get ready for name change overload. This trades union began in 1890 following strike action at The Adelphi Theatre in London. Originally called the United Kingdom Theatrical and Music Hall Operatives' Union, in 1901 it renamed itself the National Union of Theatrical Stage Employees. In 1904 it became the National Association of Theatrical Employees and the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employee in 1936 (that's NATKE with one T) and this particular name in 1970, NATTKE with two Ts. In 1984, NATTKE merged with the Association of Broadcasting Staff to form the Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance. The merged union created by NATTKE and the ABS was briefly known as ETA before becoming BETA. In 1991, BETA merged with the Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians to form the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU). In 2017, the union became a part of Prospect, a trade union which represents engineers, managers, scientists and other specialists in both the public and private sectors in the UK and that's where they are today!!!

Daniel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Mint Joined: 30 March 2010 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 1112	Post Options Post Reply Quote Daniel Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 August 2023 at 05:50
	The Shipping Federation 1890-1982 Based on finding one stamp, I found much information and related documentation. L.H. Powell tells us in his book "The Shipping Federation: A History of the First Sixty Years, 1890-1950" ,London 1950, that it was founded in 1890, in order to promote the interests of shipowners. Its primary purpose was to counter the increasing power of the seamen's unions, and in particular J. Havelock Wilson's recently formed National Amalgamated Sailors' and Firemen's Union. As a strong advocate of free labour, the Federation was ruthless in its breaking of strikes, and these activities resulted in the liquidation of the NASFU in 1894. However, in the wake of the 1911 sailors' and dock-workers' strike, the Federation began to recognise the place of the unions, and to work more closely with them. A benefit scheme was introduced called The Shipping Federation (Limited) Benefit Fund. Here is a certificate book issued to Richard Samuel Morgan 22nd May 1897. His record of service is shown from 13th February 1894 to 16th October 1899. His benefit was changed "from 1to 2" on 26th June 1899 and two Shipping Federation renewal stamps were applied to the book and dated accordingly. The stamps are overprinted in red for Liverpool and the appropriate Liverpool handstamp applied to them To complete the picture, here is one more related document, the Paper Ticket. This was the document required and issued by The Shipping Federation for every 'competent sea-going person, of whatever capacity, making application' for employment with The Federation. This particular Ticket is contemporary with the previously shown items. It is issued to Peter Benson, able seaman (abbreviated as AB) on 2nd April 1895 at the Cardiff office. It is stamped by The Shipping Federation. The reverse, showing the rules, is also shown,

Steve Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Unhinged Joined: 26 March 2010 Location: Wrexham Status: Offline Points: 3417	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steve Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 August 2023 at 01:11
	Nice bit of research there
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