ABSTRACT
Registered in 1884; by 1894 it was a constituent union of the Mutual Association of Journeymen Coopers; 1898 it had offices at 21 The Mall, Waterford, with 34 members. In 1899 it had 35; 1901, 32; 1902, 29; 1903, 28; 1904, 27 members; and in 1908 26 members. In 1913 the secretary was E. Cleary, 15 Upper Barrack Street, Waterford. In 1914, 21 members; 1914 E. Cleary, was at Glen Terrace, Waterford. In 1919 W. Anderson, was secretary of the Coopers Society, 15 William Street, Waterford. Represented at the 1897 ITUC. Transferred to the IT&GWU in March, 1943 after inability to raise finance for the Negotiating Licence under the Trade Union act of 1941. Dissolved 30 December 1942. Sources: Devine; RFS; BoT Reports; MoL Directories; TURID 1996 p. 287.
BRITISH FUNERAL WORKERS ASSOCIATION Reg. 1670T In 1946, 1300 members practically all in the London area. E. Anderson, secretary offices at Stratford London with a small number in Southampton. Formed on 17 September 1917 with W. Newman as secretary and E. Hodges, President. In 1946 E. Anderson took over as secretary. In that year the union had 11 branches, 8 in London plus Brighton, Gravesend and Southampton. Amalgamation talks in late 1940s failed and the BFWA continued. In the late 1970s there was a change of name to National Union of Funeral and Crematorium Worker with a further change to National Union of Funeral Service Operatives before the union merged with the Furniture, Timber and allied Trades Union in 1978 with 1000 members. 1945 884 members (9 female) all in London area. Gravesend 13 members Southampton 36.
