Amalgamated Society of Steel and Iron Workers of Great Britain Amalgamated Society of Steel and Iron Workers of Great Britain The Amalgamated Society of Steel and Iron Workers of Great Britain was a trade union representing workers in iron- and steelworks, principally in Scotland. The union was founded in Glasgow in 1888 and was originally named the Associated Society of Millmen. John Hodge of the British Steel Smelters Association (BSSA) acted as the union's first secretary, but he stood down a year later, when members elected their own representative, John Cronin. The union grew rapidly, despite charging new members a one-off fee of 5 shillings, membership reaching 3,000 by 1892,
Amalgamated Malleable Ironworkers of Great Britain Amalgamated Malleable Ironworkers of Great Britain The Amalgamated Malleable Ironworkers of Great Britain was a trade union representing ironworkers in Great Britain. The union was founded by John Kane in 1862 as the Amalgamated Malleable Ironworkers. Kane became its first president and editor of its journal, which was initially known as "Sons of Vulcan". He built membership up to 6,500, largely based in the north of England. In 1866, the union led a strike in opposition to pay cuts of between 10 and 60%. The strike was defeated after twenty weeks, and membership of the union fell to under 500.