The Australian Textile Workers' Union (ATWU) was an Australian trade union which existed from 1919 to 1987. The ATWU represented Australian workers employed in the manufacture of textiles, including the spinning

Spinning (textiles)

Spinning is a major industry. It is part of the textile manufacturing process where three types of fibre are converted into yarn, then fabric, then textiles. The textiles are then fabricated into clothes or other artifacts. There are three industrial processes available to spin yarn, and a...

, weaving

Weaving

Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...

, dyeing

Dyeing

Dyeing is the process of adding color to textile products like fibers, yarns, and fabrics. Dyeing is normally done in a special solution containing dyes and particular chemical material. After dyeing, dye molecules have uncut Chemical bond with fiber molecules. The temperature and time controlling...

 and finishing

Finishing (textiles)

In textile manufacturing, finishing refers to any process performed on yarn or fabric after weaving or knitting to improve the look, performance, or "hand" of the finished textile or clothing...

 of all types of fibres. Later, the union also represented workers employed in manufacturing felt hatting.

Formation

The ATWU was formed in 1919 following the deregistration of the General Textile Workers' Federation of Australia in the same year. The Australian Textile Workers' Union was reregistered in 1984 following the union's merger with the Federated Felt Hatting and Allied Trade Employees' Union of Australia.

Amalgamation

In the 1970's and 80's the number of workers employed in the Australian textile industry declined significantly due to automation

Automation

Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization...

, and increased competition from foreign goods, due to tariff reductions. This led to a decrease in the membership of the ATWU, and the union began seeking amalgamation with other trade unions in the apparel industry. In 1987 the union finalised amalgamation with the Australian Boot Trade Employees' Federation

Australian Boot Trade Employees' Federation

The Australian Boot Trade Employees' Federation was an Australian trade union which existed from 1908 to 1987. The union represented all workers employed in manufacturing footwear in Australia.- Formation :...

, creating the Amalgamated Footwear and Textile Workers' Union of Australia

Amalgamated Footwear and Textile Workers' Union of Australia

Amalgamated Footwear and Textile Workers' Union of Australia was a short-lived Australian trade union, which existed between 1987 and 1992. The union represented workers employed in the manufacture of textiles as well as footwear and felt hatting products....

. This new body subsequently amalgamated with the Clothing and Allied Trades Union

Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia

The Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia was an Australian trade union which existed between 1907 and 1992.The CATU represented workers employed in the manufacture of clothing and manchester goods, including pressers, cutters and machinists...

 to form the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia

Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia

The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia is a trade union in Australia. It represents a wide range of workers from the textile, clothing, footwear and felt hatting industries....

, which continues to represent workers in the Australian textile industry.

External links

• tcfua.org.au The website of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, the successor to the ATWU.