The Associated Carpenters and Joiners of Scotland was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

representing woodworkers in

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

History

The union was founded in 1861 on the initiative of the small United Joiners of Glasgow and the West of Scotland. Initially, it had only 630 members, but it grew with branches established across Scotland, and also in England and Ireland, as members travelled to find work. William Matson proposed that the union merge with the

Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (ASC&J) was a New Model Trade Union in the 1860s in the United Kingdom, representing carpenters and joiners. History The formation of the Society was spurred by the Stonemason's strike, 1859, ...

(ASC&J) as early as 1862, but his suggestion was unpopular and was not implemented.Arthur Marsh and Victoria Ryan, ''Historical Directory of British Trade Unions'', vol.3, p.23 Membership reached 5,000 by 1873, and peaked at 9,787 in 1899. William McIntyre, secretary during the 1890s, was strongly opposed to a merger with the ASC&J or the

General Union of Carpenters and Joiners {{short description, Former trade union of the United Kingdom The General Union of Carpenters and Joiners (GUC&J) was a trade union in the United Kingdom. The union was founded in 1827 by the amalgamation of various local societies in London. Ori ...

(GUC&J), but his successor, Alexander Stark, tried to arrange a merger of all three unions in order to counteract falling membership. With membership down to just 3,964 in 1910, a successful merger with the ASC&J was finally completed the following year.

General Secretaries

:1862: George RossS. Higinbotham, ''Our Society's History'', p.64 :1865: William Matson :1868: William Paterson :1883: James Beveridge :1892: William McIntyre :1903: Alexander Stark

References

Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom 1861 establishments in Scotland Carpenters' trade unions Trade unions established in 1861 Trade unions disestablished in 1911