From 1894 onwards, the Association realised the necessity of a more powerful organisation and sufficient funds to support the members; and strong recommendations were repeatedly put forward by the Executive for increased contributions; but owing to apparent apathy on the part of members, these recommendations were not taken up with the zeal necessary for their success.
At the Annual Delegates’ Meeting held in May, 1895, the question of replenishing the funds of the Association, which had been greatly depleted, was discussed; and it was ultimately decided to raise the contributions from 4d. to 6d. per week. As a result of this increase, two of the branches in the East of Scotland seceded.
In July, 1895, the question of amalgamating with the Kidderminster Association was again discussed; but again no definite steps were taken.
In 1897 an effort was made by the East shops (Bonnyrigg, Eskbank, and Roslin) to form a local union. This was partially established, but in June, 1904, a lock-out took place in the district on the question of shift working; and the local union, not being able to deal with the matter, appealed to the Executive of this Association for assistance, which was granted. The Executive opened negotiations with the firms concerned, and after a few weeks duration, a satisfactory agreement was arrived at, with the result that the local union was dissolved, and the members agreed to join the original Association. In March, 1895, the membership of the Association was returned at 397.
A special conference was held in Glasgow on 30th September, 1905, with the object of endeavouring to get the employers to return to the rates for tying beams which were reduced in 1886. A scheme was ultimately drawn up and submitted to the employers in 1906; but negotiations proved unproductive.
In 1905, the Glenpatrick branch, which had seceded in 1875 after their unsuccessful strike, rejoined the Association, some 72 weavers becoming members. In March, 1906, the membership of the Association was returned at 462.
In May, 1906, a dispute arose in the Charleston (Paisley) branch on the question of the weaving rate for a new fabric, which lasted about four months.
In 1907 the Association became affiliated to the General Federation of Trade Unions with a view to strengthening the reserve funds of the Association.
In 1907 and 1908, a further effort was made to bring about an affiliation of the English and Scotch Carpet Trade Unions; and on this occasion a constitution was drawn up, but at the last moment, when all seemed shaping well for the formation of a Federation, the matter again dropped.
In 1911, after prolonged negotiations with the Tapestry manufacturers, a new scheme for payment for weaving was drawn up on a proportionate basis, which was considered, at least so far as Scotland was concerned, to be a great step towards uniformity of rates. The workers’ interests in the drawing up of this scheme were very capably handled by Messrs. Rough, Robertson, and Howie. After the establishment of this scheme, things went on smoothly until August, 1914, when the outbreak of war put the organisation, in common with many others, into a condition of suspense. The General Secretary was called to the Colours; and a large proportion of the younger members answered the call to arms. Thanks, however, to careful and judicious handling, the Association ultimately overcame all difficulties; and not only was the Association preserved, but that which was almost despaired of, and which was the dream of the pioneers of the movement, was also achieved: namely, the complete organisation of all carpet workers in the Brussels, Wilton, and Tapestry carpet trade of Scotland. By the end of 1918, the membership of the Association, in spite of the great depletion in the ranks of the workers caused by the war, had increased to 1,200.