[2] Sections were also created for northern and southern England and, by the end of the year, it had 22,430 members.

[3] In 1970, a threat of national strike action secured a 10% wage increase and the abandonment of plans for a continuous shift system.

[5] This was followed by the Leicester and Leicestershire Trimmers' and Auxiliary Association in 1970, and then all the other minor unions in the industry.

The long-established Amalgamated Society of Operative Lace Makers and Textile Workers also joined.

In 1991, it merged with the National Union of Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades, with 34,183 members remaining to join the new National Union of Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trades.