Pattern Weavers' Society

The Pattern Weavers' Society was a small trade union representing textile workers in the United Kingdom.

During the 1920s, workers employed in weaving patterned material were represented by the National Union of Textile Workers. However, with a trade depression starting at the end of the decade, employers were looking to cut wages, and the pattern weavers believed that they would have a stronger bargaining position if they were represented separately from workers they felt to be lower skilled.[1]

The society was established in 1930, and within a year had 350 members. However, membership gradually declined as the industry contracted, falling to 250 members by 1968, and 100 in 1979.[1] It joined the Trades Union Congress in 1968,[2] but disaffiliated in 1987.[3] It continued in existence, and for the first time accepted a woman as a member. By 1993, its membership was down to 60,[1] and it appears to have dissolved around the year 2000.

General Secretaries

1940s: A. Kelk
1960s: Willie Lockwood
1960s: J. D. Townend
c.1980: Gordon Hawley
1990s: David Mellor

References

  1. 1 2 3 Arthur Marsh, Victoria Ryan and John B. Smethurst, Historical Directory of Trade Unions, vol.5, p.249
  2. ↑ Annual Report of the 1968 Trades Union Congress, p.141
  3. ↑ Roger Undy, Managing the Unions, pp.298-300
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.