Felt Hatters' and Trimmers' Unions of Great Britain

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.

Felt Hatters' and Trimmers' Unions of Great Britain
Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Felt Hatters and Allied Workers
Amalgamated Felt Hat Trimmers, Woolformers and Allied Workers Union
Merged intoNational Union of Tailors and Garment Workers
Founded1872, 1888
Dissolved1982
Headquarters14 Walker Street, Denton, Greater Manchester
Location
Members
8,747 and 2,833 (1943)
Key people
Thomas Mallalieu
AffiliationsTUC, 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
  1. H. A. Silverman, Studies in Industrial Organization, pp.163, 167
  2. Sallie Hellier Hogg, The Employment of Women in Great Britain, 1891-1921, p.118
  3. The Industrial History of Britain, "Jolly Hatters and its connection with the trade union movement"
  4. Elizabeth Crawford, The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide, 1866-1928, p.731
  5. Paul Martin, The Trade Union Badge: Material Culture in Action, p.36
  6. H. A. Silverman, Studies in Industrial Organization, p.167
  7. Report of an Enquiry Into Apprenticeship and Training for Skilled Occupations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1925-1926, p.114
  8. H. A. Silverman, Studies in Industrial Organization, p.165
  9. Leo McKinstry, Operation Sealion
  10. H. A. Silverman, Studies in Industrial Organization, p.167
  11. Exton, Jack; Gill, Colin (1981). The Trade Union Directory. London: Pluto Press. pp. 187–188.
  12. Jürgen Hoffman, Marcus Kahmann and Jeremy Waddington, A Comparison of the Trade Union Merger Process in Britain and Germany, p.124
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