The Bolton and District Weavers', Winders' and Warpers' Association 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 cotton mill workers in the

Bolton Bolton (, locally ) is a large town in Greater Manchester in North West England, formerly a part of Lancashire. A former mill town, Bolton has been a production centre for textiles since Flemish people, Flemish weavers settled in the area i ...

area of

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

in England. The union was the first in the Lancashire cotton industry to appoint a woman as its full-time leader. The union was founded in 1865 as the Excelsior Friendly Society of Toilet and Marseilles Quilt Weavers by Power, with the aim of regulating who was able to start working in the industry. In 1878, it became the Bolton Power Loom Weavers' Association. In 1902 it became the "Bolton and District Weavers', Winders' and Warpers' Association", and eventually it became the Bolton and District Weavers', Winders', Warpers' and Loom-Sweepers' Association. In 1884, the union was a founder member of the

Amalgamated Weavers' Association The Amalgamated Weavers' Association, often known as the Weavers' Amalgamation, was a trade union in the United Kingdom. Initially, it operated in competition with the North East Lancashire Amalgamated Weavers' Association in part of its area, ...

, but it left in 1885, and did not rejoin until 1892. In 1888, it was able to appoint its first full-time general secretary, William Melling, who was succeeded by Cephas Speak.

Alice Foley Alice Foley (28 November 1891 – 1 July 1974) was a British trade unionist, known as the first women to work full-time as the leader of a trade union in the cotton industry. Born in Bolton in Lancashire, Foley attended her local Roman Catholic ...

began doing the job of assistant secretary in 1917, but was refused the job title, instead becoming "woman officer". She eventually succeeded Speak in 1948, becoming the first woman to become the full-time secretary of a cotton industry trade union. Foley was, in turn, succeeded by another prominent woman,

Hilda Unsworth Hilda Peace Unsworth (11 November 1918 – 26 November 2015) was a British trade union leader who served as the last president of the Amalgamated Weavers' Association. Early life Unsworth was born in Bolton on Armistice Day, and as a result ...

. In 1982, the union merged with the

Bolton and District Union of Textile and Allied Workers The Bolton and District Card, Blowing and Ring Room Operatives' Provincial Association was a trade union representing cotton industry workers in the Bolton area of Lancashire in England. The longest-established union of cardroom workers, it was ...

, the

North Lancashire and Cumbria Textile Workers' Association The Preston and District Weavers', Winders' and Warpers' Association was a trade union representing cotton weavers in the Preston, Lancashire, in England. The union was founded in 1858 as the Preston Power Loom Weavers' Association, although a p ...

and the Wigan, Chorley and Skelmersdale District of the Amalgamated Textile Workers' Union, forming the

North West Lancashire, Durham and Cumbria Textile Workers' Union The North West Lancashire, Durham and Cumbria Textile Workers' Union (NWLDCTWU) was a trade union representing workers in the textile industry in part of North West England. The union was founded in 1982, when the Bolton and District Union of Texti ...

General Secretaries

:1884: William Melling :1910: Cephas Speak :1948:

:1961:

:1978:

References

{{UTFWA Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Bolton Cotton industry trade unions 1865 establishments in the United Kingdom 1982 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Trade unions established in 1865 Trade unions disestablished in 1982 Trade unions based in Greater Manchester