Statement by the General Council on the Vital Need of National Savings (Trades Union Congress 1942)
A red-and-black text poster headed 'Trades Union Congress 1942' reproduces a General Council statement urging union officers and workers to support Savings Groups, above drawings of workers at lathes and in tin hats. The appeal rests on a labour body's endorsement (testimonial) and gives three reasons to save, all in favour, in red: to help the forces, to build a reserve, and to relieve production and shipping space (card-stacking).
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1942
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Trades Union Congress General Council, issued by the National Savings Committee (London) and the Scottish Savings Committee (Edinburgh); printed for HMSO by Walsall Lithographic Co., Ltd.
- Region
- Western and Central Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Churchill Government
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Economy and finance, Labor, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Leader
- Winston Churchill
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (UK Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired before 1996; no URAA restoration)
National Savings Committee / HMSO / Walsall Lithographic Co., 1942. U.S. National Archives, NAID 44267077 (44-PF-399).
Text on the object
TRADES UNION CONGRESS 1942 Statement BY THE GENERAL COUNCIL ON THE VITAL NEED OF NATIONAL SAVINGS The General Council have decided again to stress the imperative need of all possible support being given to the National Savings Movement. Trade Union Officers are urged to co-operate with the Trade Union Advisory Committees already set up in the various regions, with a view to increasing the mem- bership and subscriptions in Savings Groups which are established in offices, factories and workshops, and setting up new Groups wherever necessary. Individual workers who are members of Savings Groups are asked to maintain as far as possible their rate of saving, and those who are not mem- bers of such Groups are urged to join. Save to help the Fighting Forces. Save to build up a reserve for your own use later. Save what might be spent on non-essentials and so relieve production and shipping space. SAVING IS A VITAL PART OF THE WAR EFFORT W.F.P. 216 Issued by the National Savings Committee, London, and the Scottish Savings Committee, Edinburgh. Printed for H.M. Stationery Office by Walsall Lithographic Co., Ltd., Midland Road, Walsall. 51-4963.
