 However, after this date, it faced increased competition, particular in Wales, where almost all of its members defected to the rival Independent Association of Tinplate Makers.Membership began to fall, particularly after Kane's death in 1876; it was only 5,000 in 1878, and just 1,200 in 1884.In an attempt to recruit more members, the union changed its rules in the 1880s, admitting steelworkers, and paying unemployment benefits, but this had little impact.