Society of Graphical and Allied Trades
# Society of Graphical and Allied Trades

The Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT) was a British trade union in the printing industry.

## History

SOGAT was formed in 1966 by the National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers and the National Society of Operative Printers and Assistants (NATSOPA). The National Union of Printing, Bookbinding and Paper Workers became the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades Division A and NATSOPA became the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades Division 1. The aim was to achieve a complete merger over time, but differences led to in-fighting and in 1970 the two divisions split, Division A retaining the name Society of Graphical and Allied Trades and Division 1 becoming the National Society of Operative Printers, Graphical and Media Personnel (but retaining the NATSOPA acronym).

In 1975, SOGAT officially became the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades 1975 (SOGAT '75) after amalgamation with the Scottish Graphical Association. In 1982, SOGAT '75 and NATSOPA finally amalgamated to become the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades 1982 (SOGAT '82). In 1991, SOGAT '82 merged with the National Graphical Association to form the Graphical, Paper and Media Union, which subsequently merged with Amicus to become that union's Graphical, Paper and Media industrial sector.

## Election results

The union did not initially sponsor Parliamentary candidates, but shortly after the 1979 general election, it changed its policy. It sponsored Bob Litherland's successful candidacy in the 1979 Manchester Central by-election, and also began sponsoring Ron Leighton, who was already a sitting Member of Parliament.

| Election | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Position |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1979 by-election | Manchester Central | Bob Litherland | 7,494 | 70.7 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Manchester Central | Bob Litherland | 27,353 | 65.3 | 1 |
| 1983 general election | Newham North East | Ron Leighton | 19,282 | 49.7 | 1 |
| 1987 general election | Manchester Central | Bob Litherland | 27,428 | 68.2 | 1 |
| 1987 general election | Newham North East | Ron Leighton | 20,220 | 51.9 | 1 |

## General Secretaries

    1966: Tom Smith
    1970: Vincent Flynn
    1975: Bill Keys
    1982: Bill Keys and Owen O'Brien
    1985: Brenda Dean

## Presidents

    1966: John McKenzie
    1967: Vincent Flynn
    1970: Bill Keys
    1975: Albert Powell
    1983: Brenda Dean
    1985: Danny Sergeant
