title: National Amalgamated Furnishing Trades Association
text: # 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
  