Tin and Sheet Millmen’s Association
Joined ISTC in 1921
Independent Association of Tinplate Makers
Born out of the Independent Association of Tinplate Makers (1871-1887). The Independent Association was confined to West Glamorganshire and Carmarthenshire under the leadership of William Lewis (Lewys Afan).
Following strikes in 1886, the Independent Association send delegations to other Tinplate works and formed the South Wales, Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire Tinplate Workers’ Union.
Having exhausted funds and goodwill from both employers and members following unsuccessful strikes in 1895/96, the union reconstituted itself as the Tin and Sheet Millmen’s Association in 1899, largely to avoid being amalgamated to, or absorbed by the Steel Smelters Union.
A lack of leadership lead to the membership refusing to enter the ISTC when first proposed, but finally take the plunge as the ISTF was wound up, entering the ISTC in 1921.