| AdminHistory | The National Unemployed Workers' Movement (NUWM) was a British organisation set up in 1921 by members of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB). It aimed to draw attention to the plight of unemployed workers during the post First World War slump, the 1926 General Strike and later the Great Depression.
From the start, the organisation was led at both national and district level by unemployed skilled engineers, many of whom had been shop stewards during the First World War. The leading figure from the organisation's inception, and throughout its existence, was Wal Hannington, an engineer and former shop steward, who was National Organiser.
Between 1929 and 1936 five national marches were held by the NUWM. The greatest victory achieved by the NUWM was against the 1934 Unemployment Insurance Act, namely the restoration of the 10% cut in benefit imposed by the Government in 1931 and the withdrawal in Feb 1935 of Part II of the Act.
Len Youle (1890-1971) first became prominent in the unemployed struggle of 1921 and fought for their recognition through the Sheffield Trades and Labour Council and was one of the founders of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement (NUWM), becoming their recognised leader in Sheffield when the NUWM became proscribed by the Labour Party. Len Youle was faced with the choice of deserting the unemployment movement or being expelled from the Labour Party; he chose the latter and from 1929 to 1938 he was District Secretary of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement (NUWM), Yorkshire District Council and represented record numbers of unemployed at the Court of Referees, winning an overwhelming majority of claims.
He, along with George Fletcher, led the unemployed marches and demonstration of 1931 and 1935.
After the Second World War, in 1945, he again became active in the Labour Party, becoming president of the Hillsborough Labour Party and executive representative on the Political Executive Committee of the Sheffield Trades and Labour Council, a postion he held until his death in 1971, and for a time was one of its vice-presidents. During the whole of this period he was prominent at Labour Party conferences, fighting for nuclear disarmament and, at the age of 70, participated in the Easter march to Aldermaston.
Len Youle was a founder member of the 'Socialist Charter' and also fought on behalf of council-house tenants on rents.
He had some involvement in the Piney Soap Company (as evidenced by extant payment collection books belonging to Youle). The 'Piney' Soap Company Works were based at 827 Prince of Wales Road, Darnall, S9 (and later at 98 Bocking Lane, Sheffield S8). in 1936 the Proprietor was listed as B.E. Jinkinson. The firm sold liquid soap, toilet soap and disinfectant. One of the payment collection books has the following written on the inside cover: Piney Soap Company; Pres[ident]: L. Youle Junior; Gaffer: C. Shaw; Lad: W.H. Glossop.
He was married to Ethel Youle, and lived at 87 Heavygate Avenue, Walkley, Sheffield from 1924 until his death in 1971. |
| CustodialHistory | These papers were salvaged from Len Youle's empty house a number of years after his death and passed to Sheffield Local Studies Library (and subsequently Sheffield City Archives in 2002). |