Despite this, it was unable to successfully organise miners outside Dalton, leaving the field open for the National Association of Blastfurnacemen.

The Blastfurnacemen did build up membership among iron ore miners in the area, but struggled to operate as a national union.

Much of the existing council opposed this change, in particular those from the large branch at Egrement, and the union voted to give Flynn notice.

[1][4] Gavan Duffy initially worked from temporary offices in Moor Row, and successfully rebuilt the union.

He invested some funds in the Workington Iron and Steel Company, through this mechanism gaining accurate information on the finances of the mine owners.