How far do you agree that Trade Unionism was a failure 1785-1834? Flashcards
In spite of the 1799 and 1800 combinations acts, there were still two successful notable strikes. When were they and where were they?
1810 Spinner in Lancashire
1818 supported by weavers too, that ultimately spread to collieries and machines makers
What did the 1818 strike threaten
national stoppage
How was the 1818 strike resolved?
Only when five leaders were arrested by government
Assess the strikes of 1818?
Whilst on one level these strikes did not complete their goals, they had to be defeated by government backed-employers, so great was their impact.
What made unions legal?
Repeal of the combination acts 1824
Who was the prime minister when the combination act were repealed?
Lord Liverpool
Why, in spite of the combination acts, did unions grow anyway?
Advancements in communication such as with the postal services
What did the 1824 repeal of the corn laws confirm?
Confirmed the extent to which government had accepted that the corn laws had failed to stop union growth
Give an example of a success of an early trade society
The London Printers in 1793 petitioned their masters for an increase in their fees given the rising cost of living
The London Printers in 1793 petitioned their masters for an increase in their fees given the rising cost of living. How many signatures did they gain in support of their demands?
539
The London Printers in 1793 petitioned their masters for an increase in their fees given the rising cost of living. What was the outcome?
This degree of unity was able to generate sufficient concern and pressure to give a positive outcome for the workers.
Give a second example of a successful early trades society
1799 weavers in Wigan had organised themselves into an association to strengthen their hand when seeking an end to wage reductions.
By May 1799, how many branches did the Association of Weavers have across Lancashire?
14
Why were the weavers in Lancashire successful?
This was a well-regarded workforce, but one who simply wanted increased wages because of the inevitable financial pressures of the war.
Give two examples of early attempts at large, more general unions and the person who tried to establish them
John Doherty 1829 established the Grand general Union of the Operative Spinner of Great Britain and Ireland. He also established the National Association for the Protection of Labour.
Assess John Doherty’s 1829 Grand General Union of the Operative Spinner and the National Association of the Protection of Labour
Although neither lasted for more than two years, they evidenced a growing determination to organise trade unionism along broader lines than before.
What did the 1834 Grand National Consolidate Trades Union give the impression of?
Gave the impression of a single untied organisation bringing together workers and representing their interests.
By forming a network of affiliated trade unions into one larger one, the grand national gained how many members within its first week and how many members at its peak?
half a million within its first week and a million at its peak
What is a limitation of an early trade society due to its membership composition?
Trade Societies were primarily formed by skilled tradesmen such as Printers, Cobblers and Mechanics who sought to protect both their trade and their bargaining hand from being weakened by industrialisation and unskilled labour.
What is a limitation of an early trade society due to its geographical composition?
They remained small, local organisations with little interest outside their own districts.
What were early trade societies particularly interested in?
Particularly interested with securing their skilled status within their own profession and ensuring that entry to it with carefully monitored, often utilising a ‘closed shop’ practice.
How did employers fill the void during a strike?
Employers often took advantage of the growing population to draft in new workers to fill a void during turnout, particularly with Irish immigrants, desperate for work.
What fact shows the growth of the british population and thus the extent of the supply of labour that employers could use to undermine a strike?
1750 - 1850 population rose form 6 million to 17 million people
Other than fill the void left by strike, what did the rapidly increasing population allow employers to do?
set whatever condition they wanted on the grounds that if workers weren’t happy then they could very easily be replaced
‘knob-sticks’ were people who undermined strikes, what were they made by the strikers?
Social pariahs
Strikes could not be effective when what happened?
when they were either not unanimously supported or the employer was able to cover the gap in productivity that was made by them
What were the first ever attempts at a general trades union and what was their fate?
The first attempts at a general union were the 1818 ‘Philanthropic Hercules’ in London and the ‘Philanthropic Society’ in Lancashire, yet both of these came to an end before the end of that year following the arrest of 5 of their leaders following strike action that year.
What did the Master and Servant Act 1823 do?
Made the breaking of a work contract an offence punishable by imprisonment
How many were involved in the tolpuddle martyrs?
6
what did the 6 farm labourers do to create the tolpuddle martyrs controversy?
6 farm labourers had formed a union, the ‘Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers’ to protest at their reduced wages of 6 shillings a week
the tolpuddle martyrs refused to work for less than how much a week?
10 shillings
In what year and who wrote to the home secretary to complain about ‘Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers’?
James Frampton 1834
What act was invoked and what was the sentence for the tolpuddle martyrs?
1797 Unlawful Oaths Act was invoked which carried a 7 year transportation sentence for the men
Despite their own failure, what did the Tolpuddle martyrs achieve?
they nevertheless drew huge public attention to the cause of unionism, attracting over 800 000 people to sign a petition in protest of their punishment and 30 000 to march on Whitehall
What was the two big downfalls of the grand national?
Size
With meagre funds available it was ill prepared to support its running coast let alone cover the costs of its workers striking
What shows how much the grand national struggled for funds?
Of its 1 million members, only 16 000 paid fees
How was the predicament of the low funds exposed?
This predicament was exposed in its first year when 1500 striking mill workers in Derby were locked out of their work for failing to leave their union. Despite last for four months without pay, they returned to work as they weren’t supported sufficiently by the Grand National.
What was the document?
it was a piece of paper that employers expected workers to sign to renounce their commitment to any union.
Why was the document used?
The middle classes were often distinctly alarmed by the growth of unions and sought to defend secure their workplaces in this way against the threat of unionism.
When did the grand national collapse?
1835
