The records of the Irish Bakers, Confectioners and Allied Workers Trade Union (I.B.C.A.W.U) comprise not only of material relating to itself but also its immediate predecessor, the Irish Bakers National Amalgamated Union, but to several nineteenth century bakery societies operating in Dublin.
Boot Lane (1789), Bridge Street (1860), New Row (1860), Wood Quay (1862), Little Britain Street (1869) and Werburg Street (1889) amalgamated under the more dominant Bridge Street union. While the activities of the Bridge Street union were increasing in the areas of social welfare and labour agitation, the society suffered almost virtual eclipse in 1911 after prolonged strike action. Many of its members were instrumental however in establishing a new union in Ormond Quay in 1912. The union transferred to premises on Gardiner Street in 1920.
As the nature of union activity and organisation developed a national body was created to supervise the efforts of individual unions in Ireland and to provide for an effective degree of liaison between them. The significant part played by both the Bridge Street and Ormond Quay unions in national activity explains the presence of the material relating to the various national unions. It was not unusual, especially after 1912, for individuals to fulfil joint functions as officers of both the national union and its regional branch in Dublin.
While changes in name may be confusing they should not obscure the basic relationship between regional office and national union. The national unions include the National Amalgamated Bakers and Confectioners Trade Union of Ireland which in 1913 became the Irish Bakers' National Amalgamated Union. The I.B.C.A.W.U existed after 1927.
This collection was deposited in UCD Archives by the Irish Labour History Society on 27 February 1977.
Administrative (1806-1954): membership, death register, apprentices' roll, agendas, minute books, diaries, reports.
Financial (1820-1954): members accounts, secretary's books, steward's books, ledgers, funeral fund, lock-out fund, account books, idle members' time cash books, expenditure books.