Responding to the contraction of the British manufacturing sector, the ISTC expanded into new areas in 2000. Both the NLBD and PLCWTWU pre-dating the ISTC having been formed as a trade union in 1899 and 1866 respectively. In 2004, the ISTC merged with the National Union of Knitwear, Footwear & Apparel Trades (KFAT) to form a new organisation called Community. Election results The union sponsored Labour Party candidates in each Parliamentary election. General Secretaries 1917: Arthur Pugh 1936: John Brown 1946: Lincoln Evans 1953: Harry Douglass 1967: Dai Davies 1975: Bill Sirs 1985: Roy Evans 1993: Keith Brookman 1999: Michael J. Leahy Assistant General Secretaries 1935: John Brown 1936: Lincoln Evans 1945: Harry Douglass 1953: Dai Davies 1967: Jim Diamond 1973: Bill Sirs 1975: Roy Evans 1985: Keith Brookman 1993: Michael J. Leahy 1999: Eddie Lynch 2004: Roy Rickhuss References External links Catalogue of the ISTC archives, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick Defunct trade unions of the United Kingdom 1917 establishments in the United Kingdom Steel industry trade unions of the United Kingdom Trade unions established in 1917 Trade unions disestablished in 2004 Trade unions based in London