The Colne and District Weavers', Winders' and Beamers' 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 weavers in the

Colne Colne () is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England. Located northeast of Nelson, north-east of Burnley, east of Preston and west of Leeds. The town should not be confused with the unrelated Colne Val ...

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 founded by 1882, although some writers have suggested that it was already in existence by the late 1870s. In its early years, it repeatedly tried to increase the area which it covered, trying and failing to create branches in

Earby Earby is a town and civil parish within the Borough of Pendle, Lancashire, England. Although within the boundaries of the historic West Riding of Yorkshire, Earby has been administered by Lancashire County Council since 1974 and regularly cele ...

Foulridge Foulridge (pronounced ) is a village and civil parish in Pendle, Lancashire, close to the border with North Yorkshire in England. It is situated just beyond Colne, on the route from the M65 to Skipton, and is an important stopping point on summ ...

and

Trawden Trawden is a village in the Trawden Forest parish of Pendle, at the foot of Boulsworth Hill, in Lancashire, England. The village co-operatively owns and runs its library, shop, community centre and pub. Activities As a way of encouraging pe ...

. Despite this, its membership gradually grew, reaching 1,000 members by 1892, 2,917 by 1897, and 6,258 in 1907.Arthur Marsh, Victoria Ryan and John B. Smethurst, ''Historical Directory of Trade Unions'', vol.5, pp.91-124 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, ...

, in 1884. Membership of the union fell through much of the 20th-century, in line with declining employment in the Lancashire cotton industry. By 1960, membership was down to 2,243. In 1975, it merged with the Barnoldswick and District Weavers', Winders' Beamers' and Textile Workers' Association and the Skipton and District Weavers' Association, forming the Colne and Craven Textile Workers' Association.

General secretaries

: G. Berry :1905: Tom Shaw :1923: William H. Boocock :1936: E. S. Kay :1937: F. Walne :1940s: H. Hope

References

{{UTFWA Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Colne Cotton industry trade unions 1882 establishments in the United Kingdom 1975 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Trade unions established in 1882 Trade unions disestablished in 1975 Trade unions based in Lancashire