The Leicester and Leicestershire Amalgamated Hosiery Union was founded in 1885, and attempted to organise throughout the county.
However, employers in Hinckley threatened members of the union with the sack, leading them to leave, and workers in the area remained unorganised.
In 1890, the union made another attempt to organise in the area and, following a nine-week strike, it succeeded, with pay immediately increased by up to 40%.
Initially, it was successful at improving conditions, but from 1903 local companies began working together, and membership dropped, bottoming out at 300 in 1910.
This was achieved at the start of 1945, with the formation of the National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers.