title: National Graphical Association
text: # 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.
  
  | Election | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Position |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1964 general election | Bristol South | William Wilkins | 26,569 | 63.5 | 1 |
  | 1966 general election | Billericay | Eric Moonman | 40,013 | 46.5 | 1 |
  | 1966 general election | Bristol South | William Wilkins | 26,552 | 67.1 | 1 |
  | 1970 general election | Billericay | Eric Moonman | 43,765 | 47.8 | 2 |
  | Feb 1974 general election | Basildon | Eric Moonman | 33,499 | 45.2 | 1 |
  | Oct 1974 general election | Basildon | Eric Moonman | 32,298 | 47.9 | 1 |
  | 1979 general election | Basildon | Eric Moonman | 32,739 | 40.5 | 2 |
  | 1983 general election | Colchester North | Ray Allen | 10,397 | 18.4 | 3 |
  | 1987 general election | Clackmannan | Martin O'Neill | 20,317 | 53.7 | 1 |
  
  ## Leadership
  
  ### 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
  