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, and it was therefore nicknamed the Second Amalgamation.

History

The union was founded in 1884 as the Northern Counties Amalgamated Association of Weavers,Amalgamated Weavers' Association
", Archives Hub with the participation of thirty-four local trade unions:

Mary Agnes Hamilton Mary Agnes Hamilton (née Adamson, 8 July 1882 – 10 February 1966) was a writer, journalist, broadcaster, civil servant, and the Labour Member of Parliament for Blackburn from 1929 to 1931. Early life Mary Agnes Adamson (known as Molly), wa ...

, ''Women at Work: A Brief Introduction to Trade Unionism for Women'', p.117 The majority of the union's members were female: in 1894, 45,000 of its 80,000 total membership were women. This was unusual; outside the cotton industry, very few women were members of trade unions. By 1937, membership had risen to 94,000, and the proportion of women had grown further, to a total of 75,000 of its members. For many years, the union campaigned against the practice of steaming in cotton mills. The union took its final name in 1923. In 1974, it merged with the National Union of Textile and Allied Workers to form the

Amalgamated Textile Workers' Union The Amalgamated Textile Workers' Union (ATWU) was a trade union in Great Britain.G. P. and S. P. A. Henderson, ''Directory of British Associations & Associations in Ireland'' (8th Edition), p.7 History The union was founded in 1974, when the Ama ...

Affiliated membership

The total membership of the union's affiliates grew steadily, peaked in 1922, then fell almost continuously until the union was dissolved.

Leadership

General Secretaries

:1884: Thomas Birtwistle :1885:

William Henry Wilkinson Sir William Henry Wilkinson (traditional Chinese: 務謹順, simplified Chinese: 务谨顺; May 10, 1858The Foreign Office list and diplomatic and consular year book for 1917, Foreign Office, Great Britain. - 1930) was a British Sinologist who s ...

:1906:

Joseph Cross Joseph or Joe Cross may refer to: People * Joseph Cross (actor) (born 1986), American actor * Joseph Cross (cartographer) (1821–1865), English cartographer * Joseph Cross (cricketer) (1849–1918), English cricketer * Joseph Cross (judge) (1843 ...

:1925:

John C. Parker John Charles Parker (4 January 1864 – 5 November 1927) was a British trade unionist. Born in Clayton-le-Moors, Parker became a weaver and was elected as secretary of the Clayton Weavers' Association. This was part of the Amalgamated Weavers' ...

:1927: Andrew Naesmith :1953:

Lewis Wright Lewis Tatham Wright, Baron Wright of Ashton-under-Lyne, CBE (born Stiles; 11 October 1903 ...

:1968:

Harry Kershaw Harry Kershaw was a professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1890s and 1900s. He played at club level for Wakefield Trinity ( Heritage № 1), as a , or half-back, i.e. number 1, 6, or 7, he played in Wakefield Trinity's first ...

:1971: Fred Hague

Presidents

:1884: David Holmes :1906: David Shackleton :1911: John William Ogden :1930:

James Hindle James Hindle (13 April 1871''1939 England and Wales Register'' – 31 July 1942) was a British trade unionist. Born in Heywood, Hindle became a weaver at an early age. In 1888, he moved with his family to Burnley and became involved in the B ...

:1937: James Bell :1947: Carey Hargreaves :1949:

Lewis Wright Lewis Tatham Wright, Baron Wright of Ashton-under-Lyne, CBE (born Stiles; 11 October 1903 ...

:1954: Harold Bradley :1960:

Ernest Thornton Ernest Thornton (18 May 1905 – 5 February 1992) was a British Labour Party politician. He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Farnworth Farnworth is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, sout ...

:1964: Fred Hague :1970: Hilda Unsworth

References

{{Lancashire Cotton Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Cotton industry trade unions 1884 establishments in the United Kingdom 1974 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Trade unions established in 1884 Trade unions disestablished in 1974 Trade unions based in Greater Manchester