National Graphical Association

The National Graphical Association (NGA) was a trade union representing typographers and related workers in the United Kingdom.

History
The union was formed in 1964 by the merger of two long-term rival unions, the Typographical Association and the London Typographical Society. It was joined by a large number of small craft print unions including the National Society of Electrotypers and Stereotypers, National Union of Press Telegraphists, Association of Correctors of the Press, Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers. Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers and Engravers (SLADE) and National Union of Wallcoverings and Allied Trades. By 1982 it had a membership of 136,300.

In 1978 the General Secretary Joe Wade asserted in a letter to the Sunday Times that "recruitment through secondary boycott has been a legitimate trade union tactic for many years."

The NGA merged with the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades in 1991 to form the Graphical, Paper and Media Union.

Election results
The union sponsored several Parliamentary candidates, many of whom won election.

General Secretaries

 * 1964: Robert Willis and John Bonfield
 * 1969: John Bonfield
 * 1976: Joe Wade
 * 1982: John Jackson and Joe Wade
 * 1984: Tony Dubbins

General Presidents

 * 1964: Fred Simmons
 * 1974: Les Dixon
 * 1982: Bryn Griffiths