The Felt Hatters' and Trimmers' Unions of Great Britain was a general term for two closely related trade unions representing workers in the hat-making industry in the United Kingdom.
Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Felt Hatters and Allied Workers Amalgamated Felt Hat Trimmers, Woolformers and Allied Workers Union | |
 | |
| Merged into | National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1872, 1888 |
| Dissolved | 1982 |
| Headquarters | 14 Walker Street, Denton, Greater Manchester |
| Location | |
Members | 8,747 and 2,833 (1943) |
Key people | Thomas Mallalieu |
| Affiliations | TUC, GFTU, Labour |
The Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Felt Hatters and Allied Workers (ASJFH) was founded in 1872. It brought together various local unions, to represent men working in the hat-making industry. Based in Denton, Greater Manchester, it gradually expanded its membership, first to Stockport, then to London, Atherstone, Nuneaton and St Albans[1]
One of the ASJFH's early campaigns was against the employment of women in the industry in the West Midlands. Having lost this dispute,[2] in 1888 it formed the Amalgamated Felt Hat Trimmers, Woolformers and Allied Workers Union (AFHTW&AWF) to represent women working in the industry. Despite being registered as separate unions, the two operated from the same office and had the same general secretary, invariably a man. However, their funds were kept separately, and the women's union offered fewer benefits.[3] The women's union campaigned for women's suffrage, and co-sponsored the 1906 United Manifesto with organisations including the Women's Social and Political Union.[4]
From 1893, the organisations began producing union labels for members to place inside hats they had made.[5] The unions undertook a major strike in 1907, in an attempt to prevent the employment of youths on certain machines.[6] The resolution of this led to an unusual position where the unions had a role in regulating apprenticeships in the industry,[7] restricting their numbers to a maximum of one-fifth the number of journeymen in any workplace.[8]
During World War II, the union was one of a handful of organisations specifically listed in the Nazi Black Book as dangerously Marxist.[9] In 1939, the unions began admitting unskilled workers in the industry. By 1943, the men's union had a membership of 8,747, and the women's union had 2,833 members.[10] However, this proved a peak, and by 1980, memberships had fallen to 526 and 627 respectively.[11]
In 1982 the unions merged into the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers.[12]
General Secretaries
- 1879: George Wilde
- 1895: Thomas Mallalieu
- 1935: Fred Worthington
- 1967: Harold Walker
- 1982:
Further reading
- J. H. Smith, The Hatters - The Felt Hatters and Trimmers Unions (1966)
References
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