The Chorley and District Weavers', Winders', Warpers' and Reelers' Association was a

trade union A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...

representing cotton industry workers in the area of Chorley, Lancashire, in England. The union was founded in 1855 as the Chorley Weavers' Association. It affiliated to the

North East Lancashire Amalgamated Weavers' Association The North East Lancashire Amalgamated Weavers' Association was a trade union federation of local weavers' unions in part of Lancashire in England, in the 19th century. History The federation was founded in 1858 as the East Lancashire Amalgamat ...

in 1863, but left in 1884 to become a founder member of the new

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, ...

. It soon decided that it could be a member of both, rejoining the First Amalgamation in 1886, though it left once more in 1892. By the 1890s, the union had three district branches and about 3,000 members. Although this continued to increase, it decided to merge all the branches into the central organisation in about 1900. Membership peaked at 4,840 in 1920, but then declined rapidly, along with employment in the Lancashire cotton industry. By 1956, membership of the union was down to only 662, and it was decided to dissolve the organisation. Most members joined the Wigan Weavers' Association, although members in

Wheelton Wheelton is a village and civil parish of the Borough of Chorley, in Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 United Kingdom census it has a population of 1,001, reducing to 956 at the 2011 Census. The village is located on the A674 Chorley� ...

instead transferred to the Blackburn Weavers' Association.

General Secretaries

:1890s: William Mellor :1910: John Wilson :1914: T. West :1932: T. Starkey

References

{{UTFWA Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom Chorley Cotton industry trade unions 1855 establishments in the United Kingdom 1956 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Trade unions disestablished in 1956 Trade unions established in 1855 Trade unions based in Lancashire