How far do you agree that the development of the New Model Unions was the most important achievement of trade unions in the years 1785-1870? (2018)

Question 1

What are the 4 factors in this essay?

Answer 1

New Model Unions (NMU)
Trades Union Congress (TUC)
Early Unions (18th/19th century)
Grand National (1834-35)

Question 2

When and what was the first New Model Union created?

Answer 2

1851
Amalgamated Society of Engineers.

Question 3

In 1862, how many members and how much money did the ASE have?

Answer 3

12k members.
£12k.

ASE was more organised and financially backed.

Question 4

When and what was the London Builder’s strike?

Answer 4

1859-60
ASE gave £3k fund which allowed them to hold out for 6 months.

Gained a 9 hour working day.

Question 5

Who did the ASE have a good relationship with?

Answer 5

The Liberal Party.
Due to its large support base.

Question 6

What did the ASE become the standard model for?

Answer 6

All following successful trade unionism.

Larger skilled unions formed as a result. E..g, 1874- 1 million members in a union.

Question 7

What ‘aristocracy of labour’ did the ASE create?

Answer 7

Increased tensions between workers in unions and those not.

Focus on skilled workers divided the workforce.

Question 8

How was the ASE isolated in separated trade? What size scale was it on?

Answer 8

ASE tended to only operate within its own trades, rather than general.

On a smaller scale.

Question 9

Who created the Trades Union Congress (TUC)?

Answer 9

George Potter and William Dronfield with the aim to a create a united trade union.

It was a universal trade union on a national scale.

Question 10

What did the TUC replace?

Answer 10

The London Trades Council.

Question 11

Did the TUC take to parliament?

Answer 11

Yes, often.

Question 12

(TUC) In 1874, how many members were there in trade unions?

Answer 12

1+ million.

Question 13

(TUC) When and who formed the Sheffield Meeting?
When and why did this fail?

Answer 13

1866
William Dronfield.

FAILED: 1867
Due to financial problems and treasurer’s involvement in the 1866 Sheffield Outrage where there were violent attacks.

Question 14

(TUC) After the failure of the Sheffield Meeting, what happened?

Answer 14

June 1868
A meeting occurred- 34 delegates represented 188k union members.

Formed the Trades Union Congress!

Question 15

(TUC) When and what was the Friendly Societies Act?

Answer 15

1867
Union’s funds now not protected.

Question 16

How was the TUC successful in August 1869?

Answer 16

Helped pass 2nd Reform Act, which supported the new Labour Representation Act- sent working class men to parliament.

Question 17

What were the failures of the TUC?

Answer 17

Didn’t receive the size of the Grand National who were the most successful union before 1834.

Had less of an influence than Parliament’s industrial interests.

Question 18

What did the Early Unions survive?

Answer 18

Hostile government attitudes… laissze faire policies!!!

Question 19

What was the 1799-1800 Combinations Acts?

Answer 19

Made it illegal to form or join trade unions that worked against employers’ freedoms.

Punishment= 3 months jail or 2 months hard labour.

Question 20

What did the 1823 Master and Servant Act do?

Answer 20

Made the failure to fulfil a work contract a crime punishable by imprisonment.
Aided private industry.

Question 21

Did early unions have any major strikes? Example?

Answer 21

Some major strikes, but usually small.

Bradford- Combers and Weavers Union attracted national attention with a London newspaper saying “champions of common interest”.
But… failed after 23 weeks despite receiving £15k by supporters.

Question 22

When was the Grand National formed? What was it?

Answer 22

1834
1st national trade union.

Question 23

What did the Grand National led to employers using?

Answer 23

‘the Document’.
Workers had to sign to say they weren’t a union member and wouldn’t join.

Question 24

How did the Grand National not help the broader issue of workers’ rights?

Answer 24

Remained very independent, each of their own trade interest.

Question 25

Due to ‘the Document’, what happened to mill workers in Derby? How long did this last?

Answer 25

1834
1.5k mill workers locked out of work for failing to leave their union.

Lasted 4 months without pay but had to return to work because Grand National didn’t support them enough.

Question 26

When did the Grand National collapse and why?

Answer 26

1835
Financially collapsed.
1+ million members but only 16k paid fees.