[2] The Amalgamated Textile Warehousemen's Association developed close links with the new union, and the two shared a general secretary.

[3] In 1983, the important Burnley, Nelson, Rossendale and District Textile Workers' Union decided to leave the ATWU, and argued that as its largest affiliate, it should be entitled to a proportionate share of the union's funds.

The ATWU disagreed, and the dispute went to the High Court of England and Wales, which rejected the Burnley and Nelson union's claim.

[4] With widespread redundancies in the industry, the union lost two-thirds of its members before it merged into the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trades Union in 1985.

[5] Based in Rochdale, the union's final general secretary was Jack Brown.