National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association

National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association
PredecessorAlliance Cabinet Makers' Association
United Operative Cabinet and Chairmakers Society of Scotland
Merged intoNational Union of Furniture Trade Operatives
Founded1902
Dissolved1946
Headquarters219 Golders Green Road, London
Location
  • United Kingdom
Members29,263 (1946)
Key people
Alex Gossip, Alf Tomkins
AffiliationsTUC, ITUC, Labour

The National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association (NAFTA) was a trade union representing workers involved in making furniture in the United Kingdom.

History

The union was founded in 1902 from the merger of the Alliance Cabinet Makers' Association and the United Operative Cabinet and Chairmakers Society of Scotland. In 1911, the Amalgamated Society of Gilders and Amalgamated Society of French Polishers both merged into the new organisation.[1] In 1907, the union had 7,007 members.[2]

In 1946, the union merged with the Amalgamated Union of Upholsterers to form the National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives.[1]

Election results

In its early years, the union sponsored several Labour Party candidates, some of whom won election.

Election Constituency Candidate Votes Percentage Position
1906 general election Leeds East James O'Grady 4,299 66.1 1[3]
1910 Jan general election Leeds East James O'Grady 5,873 71.8 1
1910 Dec general election Leeds East James O'Grady 4,028 68.0 1
1918 general election Leeds South East James O'Grady unopposed N/A 1[4]
1918 general election Plymouth Devonport Fred Bramley 4,115 19.3 2
1923 general election Coventry A. A. Purcell 16,346 34.2 1[5]
1924 general election Coventry A. A. Purcell 17,888 33.4 2
1925 by-election Forest of Dean A. A. Purcell 11,629 48.5 1[5]
1929 general election Hammersmith North James Patrick Gardner 17,601 56.2 1

Leadership

General Secretaries

1902: Harry Ham
1905: Alex Gossip[6]
1941: Alf Tomkins[6]

Parliamentary Secretaries

1906: James O'Grady
1919: James Patrick Gardner
1937: F. E. Sweetman

Assistant General Secretaries

1907: H. A. Urie
1937: Alf Tomkins
1946: Alf Bickness

References

  1. ^ a b "Furniture, Timber and Allied Trades Union", Working Class Movement Library
  2. ^ Report on Trade Unions in 1905-1907. London: Board of Trade. 1909. p. 82-101.
  3. ^ Frank Bealey and Henry Pelling, Labour and Politics, 1900-1906, pp.290-292
  4. ^ Labour Year Book (1919), pp.12-14
  5. ^ a b Howell, David (2014). Mosley and British Politics 1918-32: Oswald’s Odyssey. Springer. ISBN 1137456396.
  6. ^ a b Victor Leonard Allen, Power in Trade Unions: A Study of Their Organization in Great Britain, p.284