Government Response To New Model Unionism Flashcards
What was the government response pre 1850?
Anti trade unions, believed employers helped the growth of industrialisation
What was the general government response to unions after 1851?
Due to them being more national scale, it forced government to take notice of them
Why did NMU improve government response to unions?
More conservative, which meant the government were more open to listen to demands
Why did the growth of skilled unions force governments to listen?
Government were dependent on these skilled workers, so were forced to listen to maintain industrial growth
What act was passed in 1859, and what did this entail?
Molestation of Workmen Act 1859 - gave more rights to those who protested peacefully
Why can government legislation be argued to not be beneficial to trade unions after 1850?
Most acts passed only removed the unfair elements which the government had implmented before , especially the 1867 Act
Why else were government more open to trade unions after 1850?
Those with Political ambitions were forced to listen, as movements like the London Trade Council could mobilise thousands of votes in parliament
What other interest did many trade unionists have?
Interests in reform franchise - meant they could gain more rights if had more political influence
Why was the 1865 election important for unions?
Increase in liberal MPs - led to passing of the 1867 reform act
What was set up in 1867 as a result of the reform act?
1867 Royal Commission
What did the 1867 ReformAct give which was significant for unions?
Votes to skilled working men - this meant parliament were more interested in unions
Why was the 1867 Royal Commission set up?
To monitor treatment of workers -investigated in Sheffield
How was the Royal Commission significant for unions?
During their investigation on whether reform was needed in work, they listened to both employers and unions
What did the Royal Commission write as a result of their investigations?
Minority Report (full legislation) and Majority Report (only some legislation)
Which Royal Commission report did the government favour ?
Minority report - full legislation
Which act was passed in 1871, and what was the significance of this?
Trade Unions Act 1871, meant Trade Unions were legal
What were the Sheffield Outrages 1866?
A series of violent actions undertaken by members of the Saw Grinders Union
What events occurred in the Sheffield Outrages 1866?
Explosions were set off and the murder of employers who sought to use cheap labour
What did the investigation into the Sheffield Outrages discover?
William Broadhead, the secretary of the Saw Grinders’ union had paid 2 workmen £5 to murdered an employer named Linley after he sought to abuse cheap labour by employing more apprentices
