The South East Lancashire Provincial Card and Blowing Room Operatives' Association was a trade union representing cotton industry workers in Ashton-under-Lyne and surrounding areas of Lancashire in England.
In 1865, the United Central Association of Card and Blowing Room Operatives of Great Britain was formed, representing cardroom workers through southern Lancashire.
However, in 1879, the United Central Association voted to prohibit Irish people from joining the union.
In 1883, White took the branch into the Oldham Cardroom Amalgamation, and with the support of this organisation, he was able to increase membership from fifty to 1,200 by 1886.
He won the argument, and the CWA was founded in 1886, but White and other Ashton members failed to win election to any posts on its executive.