The Burnley, Nelson, Rossendale and District Textile Workers' Union (BNRDTWU) 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 industry workers in the

Burnley Burnley () is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Burnley in Lancashire, England, with a 2001 population of 73,021. It is north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Bru ...

and

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

areas 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 formed in 1966 with the merger of the

Burnley and District Weavers', Winders' and Beamers' Association The Burnley and District Weavers', Winders' and Beamers' Association was a trade union representing workers in the cotton industry in the Burnley area of Lancashire, in England. As cotton manufacturing dominated the town's economy, the trade un ...

and the Nelson and District Weavers' Association, initially as the Burnley, Nelson and District Textile Workers' Union. The

Padiham and District Weavers', Winders' and Warpers' Association The Padiham and District Weavers', Winders' and Warpers' Association was a trade union representing cotton weavers in the Padiham area of Lancashire, in England. The foundation date of the union is unclear, having been given variously as 1850, ...

and the

Rossendale Valley Textile Workers' Association The Rossendale Weavers', Winders' and Beamers' Association was a trade union representing cotton industry workers in the Rossendale area of Lancashire in England. The union was founded in 1873, and affiliated to the North East Lancashire Amalga ...

joined in 1977, and the union adopted its final name. The union was initially affiliated to the Amalgamated Weavers' Association, then from 1974 to its successor, the Amalgamated Textile Workers' Union (ATWU). In 1983, it decided to leave the ATWU, and argued that as its largest affiliate, it should be entitled to a proportionate share of the union's funds. The ATWU disagreed, and the dispute went to the

High Court of England and Wales The High Court of Justice in London, known properly as His Majesty's High Court of Justice in England, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, are the Senior Courts of England and Wales. Its name is abbreviated as EWHC (England ...

, which rejected the Burnley and Nelson union's claim. In 1984, with membership down to only 1,600, the union merged into the

Transport and General Workers Union The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU or T&G) was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland – where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union (ATGWU) to differentiate its ...

References

Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Cotton industry trade unions Trade unions established in 1966 Trade unions disestablished in 1984 Transport and General Workers' Union amalgamations Trade unions based in Lancashire {{UK-trade-union-stub