National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association
# National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association

The National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association (NAFTA) was a trade union representing workers involved in making furniture in the United Kingdom.

## History

The union was founded in 1902 from the merger of the Alliance Cabinet Makers' Association and the United Operative Cabinet and Chairmakers Society of Scotland. In 1911, the Amalgamated Society of Gilders and Amalgamated Society of French Polishers both merged into the new organisation. In 1907, the union had 7,007 members.

In 1946, the union merged with the Amalgamated Union of Upholsterers to form the National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives.

## Election results

In its early years, the union sponsored several Labour Party candidates, some of whom won election.

| Election | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | Position |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1906 general election | Leeds East | James O'Grady | 4,299 | 66.1 | 1 |
| 1910 Jan general election | Leeds East | James O'Grady | 5,873 | 71.8 | 1 |
| 1910 Dec general election | Leeds East | James O'Grady | 4,028 | 68.0 | 1 |
| 1918 general election | Leeds South East | James O'Grady | unopposed | N/A | 1 |
| 1918 general election | Plymouth Devonport | Fred Bramley | 4,115 | 19.3 | 2 |
| 1923 general election | Coventry | A. A. Purcell | 16,346 | 34.2 | 1 |
| 1924 general election | Coventry | A. A. Purcell | 17,888 | 33.4 | 2 |
| 1925 by-election | Forest of Dean | A. A. Purcell | 11,629 | 48.5 | 1 |
| 1929 general election | Hammersmith North | James Patrick Gardner | 17,601 | 56.2 | 1 |

## Leadership

### General Secretaries

    1902: Harry Ham
    1905: Alex Gossip
    1941: Alf Tomkins

### Parliamentary Secretaries

    1906: James O'Grady
    1919: James Patrick Gardner
    1937: F. E. Sweetman

### Assistant General Secretaries

    1907: H. A. Urie
    1937: Alf Tomkins
    1946: Alf Bickness
