[1] It was inspired, in part, by the North East Nine Hours League,[2] and its founders included Patrick Hennessey and Charles Keen of the International Workingmen's Association.
[2][3] However, Ellwood and his committee decided to spend union funds on attending the opening of the South Kensington Museum and providing themselves with a lavish dinner.
At the event, Septimus Hansard (reverend of Bethnal Green) gave a declaration of loyalty to the Prince of Wales, which he claimed was on behalf of the union, although this had not been approved.
Keen agreed to become its secretary, and he thereafter devoted little time to the union, which existed only to organise joint action between the stevedores and corn porters, who also held membership.
When this was formed in 1927 the remaining part of the union, based entirely in London and Rochester, renamed itself as the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers.