Key dates trade unionism Flashcards
1793 friendly societies act
friendly societies were required to register with local government and send updates of their activities every 3 months.
by 1803, estimates suggest that ___% of England’s population were a member of a friendly society
8
1799/1800
combination acts: Pitt’s government made it illegal to form combinations
1813 Statue of Artificers repealed
since 1563 a law existed that gave workers protection
however this act handed over power to the employers and encouraged free trade
1823 Master and Servant Act
government make it illegal to not fulfil a contract of work (punishable by imprisonment)
1824
after a long campaign by the radical tailor (Francis Place), the combination acts were repealed
1825 Amending Act
following the repeal of the Combination Acts, industrialists+conservatives were horrified at the number of strikes and trade union activity.
This act permitted trade unions to exist but were not allowed to strike
1829 national union of cotton spinners
founded by John Doherty, it was the first effective national trade union in a single trade gaining massive support.
however it died out by 1834
1830 national association for the protection of labour
following the success of the National Union of Cotton Spinners, Doherty founded this which had the support of 150 trade unions (north and midlands).
both died out due to cash shortages, lack of co-ordination and improvements in trade
1832 Operative builders’ union
set up on the lines of the NAPL and NUCS, this union had a grand lodge and its own journal
died out in 1834 for the same reasons as before
1833
GNTCU
1833 Grand National Consolidated Trade Union
over 500,000 members within weeks of forming, very organised with a grand council, fees of 1 shilling/year, future plans of industrial reorganisation
died out by 1834 due to massive opposition - e.g. use of the Document
1834
Tolpuddle Martyrs
