Welcome to the Scottish Labour History Society website

The Scottish Labour History Society (SLHS) is an independent organisation comprising academics, practitioners, labour and social activists and others interested in the development and history of Scotland’s working-class, trade union, labour and co-operative movements.
 
Since 1969 the Society has been publishing an annual peer-reviewed journal, featuring articles, news and reviews on Scotland’s labour history. It also arranges conferences, seminars and events and collaborations with like-minded organisations, as well as producing occasional publications on particular aspects of Scottish working-class history.
 
SLHS produces a free e-newsletter with information about the Society’s activities and other relevant material for those who are interested in Scottish labour history.
 
For more information and to join the Society, see the menus elsewhere on this page.

A detailed history of the Society, written by former SLHS chair Rob Duncan, can be found here.

The digitisation and indexing of the Scottish Labour History Journal has been facilitated by a generous grant from the Barry Amiel & Norman Melburn Trust, which is gratefully acknowledged by the Society.

Latest Journal

Volume 58 Cover

Volume 58, 2023

2nd Ian MacDougall Lecture – Jim Phillips: Coalfield Memories and the Miners' Strike (Pardons) (Scotland) Act
Harry MacShane: John Maclean Remembered
Stephen Coyle: From Red and Green Clydeside to Liberty Hall
Robert Laurie: William Morris's 1886 Tour of Scotland
Gillian Murray: Beyond the 'Invergordon Approach': Community co-operatives and economic security in the Scottish Highlands (1977-91)
Chris Bambery: Irish Solidarity in Scotland: How we failed and what we won
Colin Turbett: Facing Both Ways: Moral choice, trade unionism and Chile solidarity in Scotland in the 1970s
Ian Gasse: The Emergence of 'Labour' in Dumfries, 1884-1895

Plus editorial, notices & reports, book reviews &…

Browse Blog