Labour And The Trade Unions

Question 0

What was the problem with the old craft unions?

Answer 0

Their continued support of laissezfaire and self-help politics.

Question 1

When was the reform league set up? What did it do?

Answer 1

1865. Put pressure on the government for franchise reform.

Question 2

Who were the new unions?

Answer 2

Unions representing the large unskilled and low paid labour force. They were different to old unions as membership was not dependent on belonging to a particular trade.

Question 3

What did the new unions use their new funds to help?

Answer 3

Labour candidates win a seat in parliament encouraging leaders of unskilled unions to cooperate in formation of a working class political party.

Question 4

What was one of the most influential socialist societies?

Answer 4

The Fabian Society - set up by Sydney and Beatrice Webb in 1884.

Question 5

How did the Fabians think socialism would come about?

Answer 5

Gradually - not through revolution.

Question 6

There was a sense that socialism was what?

Answer 6

The evolutionary next step on from a liberalism that had performed its historic mission of extending political freedom.

Question 7

How did Gladstone not cater to the needs of the working classes?

Answer 7

1. Too preoccupied with Ireland.
2. Didn’t believe with making state provisions for the poor.
3. Still held to the principles of laissezfaire, self- help and philanthropy.
4. He refused to accept Chamberlain’s plan to tackle social problems in the 1880s.

Question 8

How did Salisbury do the working class an injustice?

Answer 8

He had little direct interest in social reform and was too preoccupied with foreign affairs.

Question 9

When did the ILP first emerge and who was its chief instigator?

Answer 9

January 1893. Keir Hardie.

Question 10

Hardie was determined that the ILP would what?

Answer 10

Not be treated as the poor relation of the liberal party and not be used to keep the liberals in office.

Question 11

What did the ILP stand for?

Answer 11

Practical reforms that would benefit working people. These were:

1. End of child labour.
2. 8 hour working day.
3. National scheme of unemployment and sickness insurance.
4. A tax on unearned income.

Question 12

How did Hardie try to broaden the appeal of the ILP?

Answer 12

1. Cooperating with the trade unions.
2. Recruiting new members.
3. Promoting women’s movements.

Question 13

Who did Hardie seek endorsement from?

Answer 13

The TUC.

Question 14

Why did the TUC refuse endorsement of the ILP for several years?

Answer 14

Because the TUC was still dominated by the craft unions whose members clung onto the self-help ethic and regarded the socialist ILP with suspicion.

Question 15

By 1889 what changes were there in the trade union movement?

Answer 15

It became increasingly dominated by the big new mass unions whose main aim was to improve the conditions of the workers.

Question 16

What were the craft unions scared of happening and what did this lead them to do?

Answer 16

Scared of losing control of the TUC. They allowed the recruitment of unskilled workers at a lower subscription and were prepared to be more militant. They were also coming round to socialist ideas. And recognised the need for social reform.

Question 17

What happened in the 1899 annual conference of the TUC?

Answer 17

It we discussed how to increase parliamentary representation and the following year a meeting took place in London that regulated on the formation of the Labour Representation Committee.

Question 18

How did the Taff Vale Judgment of 1901 increase support for the LRC?

Answer 18

It convinced the craft unions that they needed a working class party in parliament to protect their interests.

Question 19

When was the LRC renamed the Labour Party?

Answer 19

1905

Question 20

What were the characteristics of new unionism?

Answer 20

1. Militant approach with striking as the first line of attack.
2. Subscriptions were low to allow for poor workers to be members.
3. Large membership gave unions funds to support strike actions but funds did not make provision for welfare payments.

Question 21

What were the reasons for the growth of new unionism?

Answer 21

1. Uncertain economic climate of the 1870s and 1880s.
2. Spread of education among the labouring classes after 1870.
3. Leading socialists - encouraged workers to assert their rights.
4. High profile strikes.

Question 22

What were the 3 main high profile strikes?

Answer 22

1. Bryant and May match-girl strike - July 1888.
2. Gas-workers’ Union strike - July 1889.
3. Dockers strike - August 1889.

Question 23

What leading socialist helped the Bryant and May match-girl strike and how?

Answer 23

Annie Besant. She gave it publicity in a weekly paper in an article entitled ‘White Slavery’.

Question 24

Which member of the SDF organised the Gas-workers’ Union strike?

Answer 24

Will Thorne.

Question 25

Why did the dockers strike?

Answer 25

1) The pay was poor and irregular
2) Work was not constant, could hang round for half a day for work that either did not materialise or was only for a couple of hours
3) Dock companies cut bonus rates

Question 26

What was the importance of the strikes?

Answer 26

1) Gave confidence to other unskilled workers to form unions

2) Strengthened the position of the trade union movement as a whole

Question 27

Why were the 1890s a tough decade for the new unions?

Answer 27

1) There were a number of unsuccessful strikes
2) Lock-outs were coordinated to defeat strikes
3) Blackleg labour was used

Question 28

When was the Lib-Lab pact formed?

Answer 28

1993

Question 29

How did the 1906 election help the Labour Party?

Answer 29

They won 29 seats

Question 30

What was the Osbourne Case in 1909?

Answer 30

• Osbourne objected to his union using part of his subscription to support Labour and the case went to the House of Lords
• Decision was made in favour of Osbourne
• Huge political blow for Labour whose MPs could not take their seats without union funding

Question 31

How was the situation of the 1909 Osbourne Case eased for the Labour Party?

Answer 31

By the introduction of payment to MPs in 1911 and was rectified by the partial reversal of the Osbourne Judgement in 1913 with he Trade Union Act

Question 32

What was the impact of war on Labour?

Answer 32

1) Divided the Labour Party, but no long lasting effects - some members opposed to conflict, others offered full support
2) Was close cooperation between the government and trade unions to achieve the smooth running of industries essential to the war effort
3) Enabled the Labour Party to forge strong connections to the working classes and create a desire for a more equal society in Britain