“Come, Let Us Reason Together”: Trade Unions at Rowntree’s in the 1920s
In 2025, we researched and told the story of the trade unions at Rowntree’s in the 1920s. We did this through the lives of Chief Shop Steward, Fred Hawksby and the Assistant Chief Shop Steward, Irene Pickup. In addition, we explored the ways in which Joseph and Seebohm Rowntree dealt with industrial relations in their company inspired by their Quaker values and liberal politics were also investigated. We revealed how each person’s background and individual perspective was so significant in influencing each other and the pioneering work in developing workplace democracy at Rowntree’s, and the wider impact this had nationally. This project weaved themes of poverty, industrial relations, and the tensions between liberal and socialist politics in 1920s Britain in navigating these issues.
This project has been worked into 4 parts, which you can read below:
- Part 1: Trade Unions at Rowntree’s
- Part 2: 1926 General Strike
- Part 3: Fred Hawksby
- Part 4: Irene Pickup
In June 2025, we held an event as part of the Joseph Rowntree Centenary and York Festival of Ideas, to show the public our research on Rowntree’s trade unions in the 1920s. Our Executive Director presented our research, alongside other contributions from Dr. Nicola Sleapwood and Cllr Pete Kilbane.
Inkblot Films recorded it for us and you can watch it on our YouTube channel:
