Board of the Craftsmen's Association of Kunszentmárton, third sitting from the right József Tassi chairman, 1908
The new Hall of the Craftsmen's Association is being built, 1927 |
The Craftsmen's Association was formed on 20 August 1887. Even in the end of that year the association took a strong line against the outsider builders and others who had no licence. The number of members reached 243 in 1887. The thatched, here and there leaking hall was pulled down in 1927 and rebuilt it by public subscription. The social society of the association was the Craftsmen's Circle. Here amateur performances, educational lectures, balls, solemn sessions, school festivals and cultural events were organized. Such craftsmen marked that period like Kálmán Bozsik, Matuzsálem Kakuk, Gyula Berta, Simon Gyalay, Ágoston Szánthó, Ferenc Beleznay. The technical education was helped by the trades school, which started its work on 6 October 1888. The director of the school was János Veress teacher. The Craftsmen's Association managed the craftsmen's affairs, the apprentices' contracts, certificates and their employment, the freeing, issuing the labour-book, applications for aid, the retirings and contracts. The association was more than an organization, because the members tried to set exemple with their moral, political and social behavior. They educated also culturally themselves, the young members took part in the Young Craftsmen's Literary and Debating Society. Several of them worked for the authorities too, being members of county council or representatives of progressive efforts. In the political struggles of the beginning of the century the Craftsmen's Assiciation made decisions. Their administration was exemplary and supported public constructions and works on a large scale. The political system after the World War II. strove to reduce the small-scale industry. After several restricting measures the Craftsmen's Associations were liquidated all over the country in 1949. Its successor carried on the work under the name of KIOSZ (National Trade Union of Craftsmen).
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The Hall of the Craftsmen's Association, the 1920s
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