Britain Booklet 4 Flashcards
What is a trade union?
An organised group of workers who look out for workers’ rights, ensuring they are treated and paid fairly
What was a knobstick?
Local workers (often immigrants) who refused to strike angering other workers and replacing them while they striked
I’m what year was a general trades union established?
1834
How many members did the grand national have by 1834?
1 million
What was ‘the document’ used by employers?
Had to be signed by workers to state they were not members of a union and wouldn’t join one
Of the one million grand national members, how many actually paid fees?
16000
What happened in Derby in 1834 to 1500 mill workers?
Locked out of their workplace for failing to leave their union
Lasted 4 months without pay but eventually had to work because the grand national couldn’t support them financially
What did the combination act of 1800 do?
Banned any workers at any level from being part of a trade union, anyone guilty of this would be punished with 3 months in jail or 2 months hard labour
When were the combination acts finally repealed by a more open-minded government?
1824
As workers lives improved things got better in society.
After 1820 how much lower we’re food prices and what happened to GNP?
1/3 lower than the last decade
Rose by 16.8%
What happened in the case of the tolpuddle martyrs?
6 rural labourers formed a union to request a increase from 7-10 shillings
The master had them trialled and they were sentenced in 17 March 1834 to 7 years transportation in Australia
What happened in the backlash of the tolpuddle martyrs?
The story hit the press and attracted the public
21 April 1834, 100 000 workers demonstrated in London Copenhagen fields
The 6 were granted pardons on March 14 1836
When was the amalgamated society of engineers founded
1851
Who led the ASE?
William Allan
What was the aim of the ASE?
To protect skilled workers
What was the most influential action by the ASE?
1859-60, when London builders striked for a 9 hour day
ASE gave 3 donations of £1000 so they held out for 6 months and forced a compromise from their employers
What was the significance of the ASE?
Changed the structure of unions around the country to become much larger and national organisations in a more organised manner for success
Who copied the ASE?
The ASCJ took up the same new model of union as the ASE and were too very successful
By 1874 how many workers had joined a trade union?
Over 1m
When was the trade union Congress first meeting and how many attended?
June 1868
34
Who created the TUC and why?
George potter and William dronfield
To bring together unions regardless of trade and make workers heard in a less cautious way
What was the government response to new unionism?
Much more positive as it was much more respectable and so the legal system became increasingly aware and fair towards workers
How long was the working day made by Robert Owen at his co op in new Lanark in 1800?
Shortened to 12h with a 1.5h break for food
What did Owen introduce instead of punishments?
Incentives
E.g. the ‘silent monitor’
Robert Owen influences others to follow suit.
Who and when set up the newspaper ‘the co-operator’?
William king in 1827 with wide readership to circulate the ideas
By 1832 how many co-ops were in Britain?
500
What % of the Rochdale pioneers profits went towards education?
2.5%
When was the Rochdale co-op set up and by how many men?
1844 by 28 men, setting a template for more future co-ops
What was the impact of the pioneers and co-ops?
Long - term impact, unsuccessful to begin due to lack of experience and ways to make profit too but as time went on the structure improved and organisation worked well.
How were trade societies different to trade unions and co-ops?
Less radical
Made legal
Don’t challenge but also don’t ignore gov
Last longer
By 1803 what % of the population were members of a friendly society?
8%
By 1815, what fraction of society did friendly societies provide insurance for?
1/3
When was the first friendly societies act?
1793
When was the friendly societies act modified and why?
1855
To protect the funds as the membership had reached millions and the gov recognised the importance of these respectable groups (unlike the bad name of trade unions) to gain votes
By 1870 how did friendly society membership outnumber trade unions
4 to 1
What was a drawback of friendly societies?
Some poorer or seasonal workers couldn’t afford subscription fees
How did unions, co-ops and friendly societies have an impact on different ways?
Long - term: unions gathered support over time and eventually was legalised to have maximum effect.
Short-term: friendly societies always legal so always could have some impact although often too cautious.
Co-ops involved whole community , yet never challenged government only lived under them by ignoring them which reduced their political significance