Although there was a weavers' union in Nelson by 1860, this appears to have dissolved, and was replaced by the '''Nelson and District Power-Loom Weavers' Association''' in 1870. This was initially a branch of the
North East Lancashire Amalgamated Weavers' Association, but it soon adopted an independent existence, affiliating to the
Amalgamated Weavers' Association (AWA) on its formation in 1884, and leaving the first amalgamation in 1892. By 1884, the union only 400 members, peaking at 18,000 in 1920. In 1912, 420 Catholic members split away to form the rival Nelson and District Weavers' Protection Society. The association struck in opposition to their continued employment, but this was resolved when employers offered compensatory payments to association members. The Protection Society steadily lost members until it was dissolved, in 1921, the few remaining members rejoining the association. In 1911, union collectors went on strike after their take was reduced. This was resolved by the union founding a separate insurance society, offering new opportunities for the collectors to increase their income. From 1920, the local cotton industry entered a long decline. The AWA and the
United Textile Factory Workers' Association agreed wage reductions in 1921, an action which the Nelson Weavers opposed. There followed a number of disputes. In 1928, union members at Mather Brothers mill struck over the sacking of John Husband, the vice-president of the union. This led to a seven-week
lock-out at mills across the town. The AWA did not support the locked-out workers, and they failed to get Husband re-appointed, although the union felt that the action led to improved conditions for workers more generally. In 1931, the union took part in the AWA strike over workers being asked to manage
more looms. The union felt that the AWA was too keen to settle the action and, on a proposal of ILP members, sent its own delegation to meet with
Arthur Greenwood and ILP Members of Parliament. This succeeded in getting the proposal abandoned, but it emerged again the following year and was then agreed by the AWA. Despite a gradual decline in membership, by 1935 the union was the largest affiliate of the AWA, and by 1941 it retained 10,000 members. In 1960, the union was renamed as the '''Nelson and District Weavers' Association'''. Membership had fallen to only 3,000 in 1964, and in 1966, it merged with the
Burnley and District Weavers', Winders' and Beamers' Association, forming the
Burnley, Nelson and District Textile Workers' Union. ==General Secretaries==