Britain - trade unionism and cooperation

Question 1

What are the factors the failure of trade unions?

Answer 1

Organisation (grand national & early trade unions), strikes and knobsticks, government oppression.

Question 2

List facts for the organisation of early trade unions (failures)

Answer 2

Closed shop methods (jobs only given to members of a union), only popular with skilled workers.
London Printers - 1793 - petitioned their masters for an increase in wages, only for 539 signatures.
Small, local, no interest outside of their own.

Question 3

List facts for the organisation of the grand national (failures)

Answer 3

Meagre funds - of 1mill members only 16,000 paid subscription fee - was not enough to cover the cost of strikes.
‘The document’ - made them renounce commitment to union or lose their job
Collapsed by 1835 - lack of national thinking and leadership - was unable to become a unified force.

Question 4

List facts for strikes and knobsticks (failures)

Answer 4

Knobstick - someone who refuses to strike for financial reasons - usually irish immigrants.
Major strikes by cotton spinner in 1810 then again in 1818, spread to other industries but was brought to an end after 5 members were arrested and the aims werent achieved.

Question 5

List facts for government oppression (failures)

Answer 5

Combination acts 1799-1800, banned oaths, jail for 3 months or 2 months hard labour
Meant masters could not be called on by JOP to give evidence against themselves.
Master and servant act - 182 made ac of breaking contract illegal and punished through imprisonment - on average between 1857-75 10,000 prosecutions a year.

Question 6

What are the factors for the growth of cooperation?

Answer 6

Robert Owen (New Lanark) and the Rochdale pioneers

Question 7

List facts for Robert Owen (growth of cooperation)

Answer 7

New Lanark operated 1799-1828, created to make perfect working environment, Tsar of russia visited in 1816.
Abolished punishments as a means of raising productivity- created ‘silent monitor’ - black for poor behaviour, yellow for good and white for excellent.
From 1800 the working day was shortened to 12hrs and a 1 1/2hr break.
No children under 10 were allowed to work.

Question 8

List facts for the rochdale pioneers (growth of cooperation)

Answer 8

Main principles - more equality amongst classes, elected management, wanted improved education and working conditions, profits divided and no heirarchy.
Had emphasis on democracy - everyone had one vote (no matter race, gender)
By 1863 322 cooperatives were around 251 were created after hearing about the rochdale pioneers.
From 1850 in London a cooperative agency was for supporting other coops and in 1868 went international.