Britain - Unionism and Cooperation Flashcards
How did factory workers perceive their role in the manufacturing industry and how did their gathering in one place impact their unity?
Factory workers saw how important their contribution was to the manufacturing industry. The fact that all the workers were gathered in one place gave them a unity of purpose.
What was a common consequence of the government’s adoption of laissez-faire free trade policies?
The government’s adoption of laissez-faire free trade, which involved not imposing business restrictions on entrepreneurs, led to common exploitation of workers.
What were trade societies?
Trade societies were organisations that sought to secure basic protections for workers.
Who started trade societies?
They were often started by skilled tradesmen, such as printers and mechanics, who wanted to protect their trade from being weakened by unskilled workers.
What were the trade societies goals?
These societies focused on their own trade in their local areas rather than on broader district or class protections.
What were ‘closed shops’?
A way in which skilled workers aimed to maintain their trade’s status above unskilled workers by regulating apprenticeships.
What was the significance of the London Printers Society’s petition in 1793?
Their unity and demands were successful, as their employers granted the wage rise. This success was attributed to the fact that printers were skilled workers who couldn’t easily be replaced.
What did the London Printers Society do?
In 1793, the London Printers Society presented a petition of 539 signatures to their masters, asking for a wage increase due to rising living costs.
Why were trade societies of skilled workers often successful in their demands?
Trade societies of skilled workers were often successful because these workers were indispensable and not easily replaced. They could collectively bargain for self-protection and, if their demands were not met, they could withdraw their labor, effectively halting industry operations. This ‘strike’ action required unity among the workers to be effective.
How did non-striking workers impact strike actions?
Non-striking workers undermined the overall effectiveness of strike actions. They were labeled by the trade societies as they significantly reduced the chances of a successful strike.
How did the presence of Irish immigrants affect the labour market and strike actions?
The growing population of Irish immigrants provided employers with an alternative labour supply for unskilled industries during strikes, rendering strikes by unskilled workers ineffective.
Why were Irish immigrants unpopular?
These immigrants were often despised by the striking workers and derogatorily called ‘Knobsticks’. They were sometimes physically attacked, as seen during the Saw Grinders’ Union strike in Sheffield in 1866.
How did ‘Knobsticks’ influence the power dynamics between employers and workers?
‘Knobsticks’ strengthened the power of employers by providing an alternative labour supply during strikes, thereby undermining the striking workers’ efforts and reducing the effectiveness of their collective bargaining
What were trade unions?
Trade unions were a formal version of trade societies, being larger collective bodies with a common aim, often seeking better working conditions and wages.
How did trade unions differ from trade societies?
Unlike trade societies, which acted locally, trade unions had broader interests, involving others in the same industry across various locations to be more forceful.
How did government policy in 1769 affect the formation of trade unions?
In 1769, the government withdrew intervention from factories, allowing workers to form trade unions, which acted in unity to exert more influence.
Why was isolated strike action by trade societies often unsuccessful between 1750 and 1850?
Between 1750 and 1850, the population rose from 6 million to 17 million, giving employers the freedom to set their own conditions as workers were easily dispensable. This made isolated strike action by trade societies unsuccessful and pointless.
How did the war with France (1793-1815) impact workers’ economic conditions?
The war with France increased economic discontent among workers across all industries due to rising food prices, making wages insufficient.
How did the war with France (1793-1815) impact workers’ union activities?
This led to the formation of associations like the Association of Weavers in 1799, which sought to stop wage reductions and expanded to 14 branches by May 1799 due to mutual support among weavers.
How did the industrialisation and growing population affect the relationship between employers and workers?
Industrialisation and the growing population strengthened the employers’ hand due to an increased supply of labour. The direct connection between employers and workers was severed, leading to a clear divide and the loss of a ‘common goal,’ which contributed to the development of unionism.
What were the Combination Acts?
The Combination Acts of 1799 and 1800 made trade unionism illegal.
How did the repeal of the Combinations Acts affect trade unionism?
Their repeal in 1824, followed by an amendment in 1825 that criminalised ‘molestation’ (pressuring others to join strikes), allowed trade unions to operate more freely, leading to better communication and collaboration among unions.
How did improved communication networks impact trade unions in the early 19th century?
The development of postal and rail networks allowed trade unions to share ideas and collaborate.
When was the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union (GNCTU) established?
1834
What did the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union (GNCTU) do?
It aimed to unite various trade unions and create a sense of working-class solidarity.
What were the challenges faced by early attempts to amalgamate unions of different trades?
Early attempts faced challenges due to differing interests among trades and the illegality of unions until 1825.
What were some of the early attempts to amalgamate trade unions?
The ‘Philanthropic Hercules’ in London and the ‘Philanthropic Society’ in Lancashire (1818)
How did trade unions support strike actions financially?
Trade unions supported strike actions financially through membership fees, which were redistributed as strike funds.
What was the notable strike in Lancashire?
The cotton spinners’ strike in Lancashire in 1810, lasting four months
What led to the creation of the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union (GNCTU) in 1834?
The economic decline following the war with France led unions to reach out to each other for greater influence in negotiations.
What was ‘The Document’?
‘The Document’ was a contract employers forced employees to sign, denouncing any commitment to any trade union.
How did ‘The Document’ impact trade union workers?
If employees refused to sign, they were locked out of work or denied employment. This secured employer obedience and weakened union power.
Why did the GNCTU face limitations?
The GNCTU faced limitations due to its lack of unity among very independent trade unions, insufficient funds from voluntary subscriptions, and mass use of ‘The Document’ by employers.
Why did the GNCTU end in 1835?
It ended in 1835 as it lost members who couldn’t afford to be locked out of work, leading to the collapse of the union’s influence.
How did the employers retain power over workers after the end of the GNCTU in 1835?
Employers retained power by requiring workers to sign ‘The Document,’ ensuring obedience and preventing effective union organisation. Trade unions themselves hindered a coordinated national effort by focusing only on their specific trades, leading to the dissolution of the GNCTU.
What was the laissez-faire economic attitude?
The laissez-faire economic attitude was based on the belief that prosperity came from minimising government regulation and allowing employers to operate freely.
How did the laissez-faire attitude influence the government’s view on unionism?
The government saw unionism as an obstacle to economic prosperity and thus sympathised with employers rather than employees.
How did the French Revolution and the war with France influence the government’s stance on unionism?
The French Revolution (1789) and the war with France (1793) heightened the government’s fear of revolution, especially among landowners and MPs. This paranoia extended to the working class, leading the government to perceive calls for higher wages as political attacks on the British system.
What actions did Prime Minister William Pitt take against trade unionism in 1799?
Prime Minister William Pitt criminalised trade unionism in 1799, allowing for trials before a Justice of the Peace with a three-month prison sentence for anyone found guilty of being in a trade union or society.
What Enlightenment attitudes influenced the repeal of the Combination Acts, and who were key figures in this movement?
Enlightenment attitudes, exemplified by MP Robert Peel and Joseph Hume, held that the Combination Acts caused social distress. Their removal was seen as allowing workers an effective outlet to air their problems.
