In the aftermath, several branches joined the new Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (ASC&J).
Although membership of the General Union recovered, a 53-week strike by the Manchester branch in 1877 drained funds and led many more members to defect to the ASC&J.
That year, William Matkin was elected as general secretary, and rapidly increased membership, which reached 9,000 in 1900.
However, many of the new members paid a very low rate of subscriptions and as a result were not eligible for most of the membership benefits.
However, Matkin died in 1920, and the union agreed to a merger the following year, which formed the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers.