Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers


The Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers was a British trade union representing carpenters, joiners and allied trades. The ASW was formed in 1921 by the amalgamation of two smaller unions. It was itself merged into the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians in 1971.

History

The ASW was formed in 1921 through the merger of two rival unions: the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Cabinetmakers and Joiners and the General Union of Carpenters and Joiners.
The ASW had 176,000 members by 1945, making it the seventh largest union in Britain. Its membership rose to 198,000 by 1956. In 1965, the National Union of Packing Case Makers, Box Makers, Sawyers and Mill Workers merged into the ASW.
On 1 July 1970 the ASW was merged with Amalgamated Society of Painters and Decorators and the Association of Building Technicians to form the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers and Painters. One year later the new union was itself merged with Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers to become the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers Painters and Builders. At the end of 1971 the ASWPB was renamed the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians.

Election results

The union sponsored a large number of Labour Party candidates, many of whom won election.
ElectionConstituencyCandidateVotesPercentagePosition
1922 general electionBirmingham Yardley11,23441.92
1922 general electionChippenham1,09805.13
1922 general electionStockport16,12615.84
1922 general electionWalthamstow West8,75843.31
1922 general electionWillesden West12,52948.52
1922 general electionWycombe4,40314.13
1923 general electionBirmingham Yardley11,56246.52
1923 general electionManchester Hulme8,43330.03
1923 general electionNuneaton10,43729.13
1923 general electionRotherham16,98353.91
1923 general electionWalthamstow West10,02647.61
1923 general electionWillesden West14,00451.31
1924 general electionBirmingham Yardley14,18446.82
1924 general electionManchester Hulme13,07041.22
1924 general electionMontrose Burghs6,91442.82
1924 general electionRotherham18,86054.61
1924 general electionWalthamstow West12,62149.12
1924 general electionWillesden West14,88447.31
1929 general electionBirmingham Yardley23,95648.81
1929 general electionGlasgow Partick13,11045.51
1929 general electionManchester Hulme15,05343.81
1929 general electionRotherham26,93760.41
1929 general electionWalthamstow West16,05054.01
1929 general electionWillesden West20,58352.31
1931 general electionBirmingham Yardley16,64033.82
1931 general electionGlasgow Partick11,25237.32
1931 general electionRotherham22,83449.22
1931 general electionWalthamstow West14,14445.11
1931 general electionWillesden West15,55039.42
1935 general electionLeeds Central13,70143.62
1935 general electionLiverpool Fairfield11,15537.52
1935 general electionWalthamstow West17,61361.81
1935 general electionWillesden West19,40245.92
1945 general electionLeeds Central13,37057.11
1945 general electionLiverpool Exchange8,49452.01
1945 general electionWalthamstow West17,46065.21
1945 general electionWillesden West26,56672.21
1950 general electionGateshead East15,24945.11
1950 general electionLeeds Central24,03060.81
1950 general electionWillesden West33,96361.11
1951 general electionGateshead East19,52557.71
1951 general electionLeeds Central23,96762.41
1951 general electionWillesden West35,29664.31
1955 general electionGateshead East21,65356.51
1955 general electionWillesden West29,18561.81
1959 general electionBradford North20,17946.92
1959 general electionCanterbury15,74633.82
1959 general electionGateshead East25,31958.91
1964 general electionRipon7,34121.83
1966 general electionLiverpool Walton20,59057.31
1970 general electionLiverpool Walton21,45253.61

Leadership

General Secretaries

Assistant General Secretaries