 The following year, Kane reformed the union as the Amalgamated Malleable Ironworkers of Great Britain, and Trow was elected to its first general council.In 1872, he was elected as both president and assistant secretary of the union, then in 1874 switched the presidency for the post of treasurer, which was made full-time.Within the union, Trow focused on promoting negotiation with employers, avoiding industrial action, and for centralising power in the union, rather than allowing district high levels of autonomy.