National Union of Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trades

Former trade union of the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Members

82,303 (1991)
16,000 (2002)AffiliationsTUCWebsitewww.kfat.org.uk

The National Union of Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trades (KFAT) was a trade union in the United Kingdom.

History

The National Union of Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trades was formed in 1991 through the amalgamation of the National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers and the National Union of the Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades.^[1] It had 82,303 members when it was formed.^[1] KFAT organised a range of clothing-related workers and was particularly strong in areas of the East Midlands including Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, with other members in Lancashire textile regions and the Yorkshire leather-producing industry. It absorbed the Rossendale Union of Boot, Shoe and Slipper Operatives in the mid-1990s.^[2] The union was notable for its high proportion of female members - roughly half of its members in 2004 being women.

After initially considering amalgamation with the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers KFAT merged with the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation in 2004 to form Community.^[3]

Leadership

General presidents

1991: David Lambert

1994: Helen McGrath

1999: Tony Hallam

General secretaries

1991: George Browett

1992: Helen McGrath

1994: Paul Gates

References

^ ^a ^b Undy, Roger (2008). Trade Union Merger Strategies: Purpose, Process, and Performance. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 257. ISBN 9780191562686. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
^ Farnham, David (2000) [1997]. Employment Relations in Context (2nd ed.). London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. p. 270. ISBN 0-85292-876-9. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
^ Waddington, Jeremy; Kahmann, Marcus; Hoffmann, Jürgen (2005). A Comparison of the Trade Union Merger Process in Britain and Germany: Joining forces?. Abingdon: Routledge. p. 124. ISBN 0-415-35378-5. Retrieved 11 April 2013.