The following year, it undertook its first strike, in protest at two overlookers named Evans and Berry, who were sexually harassing women members.
Following the action, employers offered that the overlookers would only work mornings, a deal the union leadership was willing to agree, but members voted to reject this.
[1] It was largely as a result of the union's efforts that cotton trade unionist David Shackleton was elected as the local Member of Parliament at the Clitheroe by-election, 1902.
[1] In 1912, 420 Catholic members split away to form the rival Nelson and District Weavers' Protection Society.
This was resolved by the union founding a separate insurance society, offering new opportunities for the collectors to increase their income.
The AWA and the United Textile Factory Workers' Association agreed wage reductions in 1921, an action which the Nelson Weavers opposed.