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Club organisation drops reference to 'Working Men' after members vote for name change
The Working Men's Club & Institute Union has changed its name, dropping the reference to Working Men from its title and will now be called the Club & Institute Union (CIU).
This change was decided at the club organisation's 159th Annual General Meeting which was held on Saturday, April 15 in Blackpool.
The CIU was founded in 1862 by philanthropist Henry Solly and is a voluntary association of private members' clubs in Great Britain and Northern Ireland with circa 1,200 associate clubs.
Proposing the motion for the name change at the AGM, CIU National Executive Member Nathan Clarke said:
"We believe this name change will have a huge, positive effect for our clubs and for this great organisation and will better reflect the realities of our clubs in 2023 where women members have just as much of a stake in their clubs as the men.
"This change will help to alter people's perceptions of the CIU and its clubs and will bring new people into the club movement, people who may have been put off coming through our doors because they're not 'working men'.
"Of course, clubs will be absolutely free to call themselves what they want, just as they are now - it is just the title of the Union that we want to change.
"We are very rightly proud of the 161-year history of this Union and forever grateful to the founding fathers of our movement but it is now time to ensure that everyone within and outside the CIU understands that our clubs are there for everyone."
Delegates passed the motion by an overwhelming majority.
George Smith, President of the CIU, added: "I'm delighted that our member clubs have supported this historic name change and sent out a clear signal that everyone is assured of a warm welcome when they walk into a CIU venue."
Kenneth D Green CMD ACM, General Secretary, said: "For 161 years, the CIU has been a force for good across UK society with our clubs providing fellowship, entertainment and education for their members while at the same time providing meeting places for community groups and raising millions of pounds for charities and good causes.
"Hopefully this name change will encourage people to pop into their local social club and see for themselves just how much our venues have to offer."
EDITOR’S NOTES
The CIU has two main purposes: to provide a voice at national level for its clubs, and to provide discounted products and services for its members.
A member of one CIU-affiliated club is entitled to use the facilities of all other CIU clubs. They will be entitled to vote in committee elections in clubs where they are full members.
