[2] The headquarters of the union moved each year: it was in Huddersfield in 1832, Birmingham in 1833, and Manchester in 1834.
The union grew rapidly, with 6,000 members at the start of 1833, but 40,000 later in the year; it was particularly strong in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle.
It also campaigned against mechanisation, piecework, and the recruitment of too many apprentices, and in favour of a set wage scale for each job role.
This was strongly opposed by masters in the trades, and in both Birmingham and Manchester, union members were denied work.
However, the Grand National soon collapsed, and the guild similarly dissolved around the turn of 1834 and 1835.