Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners
Encyclopedia
The Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners was formed in 1870. It was a union for male mule spinners
in Lancashire
, England
. There had been previous attempts at forming a union for spinners. There had been the Manchester Spinners Union and the Grand General Union of Operative Spinners of the United Kingdom formed in 1828, by John Doherty. It only lasted two years. In 1845 a group of spinners in Bolton
who created the Association of Operative Cotton Spinners; it failed. There was also the Friendly Association of Hand Mule Spinners, which was formed in Preston in 1852.
By 1910, almost 100% of male mule spinners were members. Its membership numbered 22000. It had established mule spinners as the barefoot aristocrats of cotton. Female ring spinners
were represented by the expansionist Cardroom Worker's Amalgamation. The powerloom weavers were represented by the Amalgamated Weavers Association who had 114000 members.
The Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners had a federal structure with strong central leadership where control was in the hands of a small group of paid officials. Their dues were high, so the fighting fund was large and the officials were skilled in defending the complex wage structures. One of its leading representants in the 20th century was Lewis Wright
who later became Lord Wright of Ashton-under-Lyne and President of the Trades Union Congress
.
Spinning mule
The spinning mule was a machine used to spin cotton and other fibres in the mills of Lancashire and elsewhere from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth century. Mules were worked in pairs by a minder, with the help of two boys: the little piecer and the big or side piecer...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. There had been previous attempts at forming a union for spinners. There had been the Manchester Spinners Union and the Grand General Union of Operative Spinners of the United Kingdom formed in 1828, by John Doherty. It only lasted two years. In 1845 a group of spinners in Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
who created the Association of Operative Cotton Spinners; it failed. There was also the Friendly Association of Hand Mule Spinners, which was formed in Preston in 1852.
By 1910, almost 100% of male mule spinners were members. Its membership numbered 22000. It had established mule spinners as the barefoot aristocrats of cotton. Female ring spinners
Ring spinning
Ring spinning is a method of spinning fibres, such as cotton, flax or wool, to make a yarn. The ring frame developed from the throstle frame, which in its turn was a descendant of Arkwright's water frame. Ring spinning is a continuous process, unlike mule spinning which uses an intermittent action...
were represented by the expansionist Cardroom Worker's Amalgamation. The powerloom weavers were represented by the Amalgamated Weavers Association who had 114000 members.
The Amalgamated Association of Operative Cotton Spinners had a federal structure with strong central leadership where control was in the hands of a small group of paid officials. Their dues were high, so the fighting fund was large and the officials were skilled in defending the complex wage structures. One of its leading representants in the 20th century was Lewis Wright
Lewis Wright, Baron Wright of Ashton-under-Lyne
Lewis Tatham Wright, Baron Wright of Ashton-under-Lyne, CBE was an English politician whose career was strongly connected with the textile industry in Lancashire in North West England...
who later became Lord Wright of Ashton-under-Lyne and President of the Trades Union Congress
President of the Trades Union Congress
The President of the Trades Union Congress is a prominent but largely honorary position in British trade unionism.The President is elected at the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress . They officially fill the office for the remainder of the year and then preside over the following...
.
General Secretaries
- 1878: James MawdsleyJames Mawdsley (trade unionist)James Mawdsley was an English trade unionist. Alongside Winston Churchill, he stood as a Conservative Party candidate in the double Oldham by-election of 1899.-Biography:...
- Hamilton Frere Smith
- Lewis Wright