Formed in 1917 as the National Union of Sign, Glass and Ticket Writers and Kindred Trades it represented workers engaged as a sign, glass, poster or ticket writer, or in any branch of subsidiary and allied trades.
Between 1939-44, correspondence covered general union matters such as wage claims and holiday allowances and a Cinema Poster Trade Joint Agreement was negotiated.
In 1944, the Sign and Display Trades Union signed an agreement of mutual recognition with the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees (NATKE), acknowledging the demarcation between the two unions in the cinema industry.
[4] In 1949 two other unions, the Northern Glass Workers' Employees' Association and the National Society of Decorative Glass Workers of the United Kingdom, transferred their engagements to the Sign and Display Trades Union.
[5] In 1972 the union transferred its engagements to the National Society of Operative Printers, Graphical and Media Personnel.