National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
NUDBTW

Merged into	Transport and General Workers Union
Founded	1936
Dissolved	1982
Headquarters	National House, Bradford
Location	United Kingdom
Members	85,500 (1939)
Key people	Jack Peel, Bill Maddocks

The National Union of Dyers, Bleachers and Textile Workers (NUDBTW) was a trade union in the United Kingdom. A trade union is a group of workers who join together. They work to protect their rights and improve their working conditions.

History of the Textile Workers Union

How the Union Started

The NUDBTW union began in 1936. It was formed when three smaller unions joined together. This is called a merger. The unions were:

• The National Union of Textile Workers: This union mainly helped workers in the woollen and worsted industries. These industries make fabrics from wool.
• The Amalgamated Society of Dyers, Finishers and Kindred Trades
• The Operative Bleachers, Dyers and Finishers Association: This group represented workers in Lancashire, a region in England.

In 1939, the NUDBTW had 85,500 members. About 25,500 of these members were women.

Union Strength in Textile Industries

Dyeing and finishing fabrics were jobs mostly done by men. Because of this, these areas had more union members. Other parts of the British textile industry had fewer union members. Many workers in textile finishing had "closed shop" agreements. This meant they had to be part of the union to work there.

Leaders and Campaigns

From 1966 to 1973, Jack Peel led the union. He later left to work for the European Economic Community. He became known for criticizing trade unions in the UK.

Another leader, Bill Maddocks, took over in 1973. Under his leadership, the union became more active. They especially fought against the use of benzidine-based dyes. These dyes were found to be harmful.

Changes and Mergers

By the early 1980s, the union's membership dropped. This was because many jobs were lost in the textile industry. Membership fell to 56,843.

However, more workers joined when other unions merged with the NUDBTW.

• In 1979, the Union of Jute, Flax and Kindred Textile Operatives joined.
• In 1980, the Yorkshire Society of Textile Craftsmen joined. The Huddersfield and District Healders and Twisters Trade and Friendly Society also joined.

In 1982, the NUDBTW joined with the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU). This created a special group within the TGWU for textile workers. Existing TGWU members in the textile industry also moved to this new group. This made the new group twice as big.

Election Results

The union supported a candidate from the Labour Party in the 1955 general election. This means they helped pay for their campaign.

General Secretaries

• 1936: Arthur Shaw
• 1939: George Bagnall
• 1948: Wilfred Heywood
• 1957: Leonard Sharp
• 1966: Jack Peel
• 1973: Fred Dyson
• 1979: Bill Maddocks

See also

• Transport and General Workers' Union
• TGWU amalgamations