New Model Unionism

Question 1

Who were the Amalgamated Society of Engineers ?

Answer 1

Combination of 3 smaller unions, set up in 1851

Question 2

What was the creation of the ASE a reason for?

Answer 2

Reaction to industrialisation which saw the growth of unskilled labour, which skilled workers argued was dropping down wages - way to reassert skilled labour

Question 3

What did the creation of new model unionism create?

Answer 3

A feeling of division of labour which meant many workers felt needs weren’t met and considered

Question 4

Who was the leader of the ASE?

Answer 4

William Allan

Question 5

How did the ASE make itself a movement for skilled unionism?

Answer 5

Required a payment of members (in 1852 it made £12,000)

Question 6

What strikes occurred in 1859-60 which the ASE supported?

Answer 6

London Builders Strike, with the aim to reduce working hours to 9 a day

Question 7

How did the ASE support the 1859-60 strikes?

Answer 7

Provided £1000 financial support, which allowed the strikers to hold out for 6 months and achieve their aims

Question 8

What was the significance of help from the ASE in 1859?

Answer 8

Showed by using New Model Unionism they could promote working class interests, and inspired other unions to follow their model so stopped localised unions

Question 9

How many members did the ASE have at one point?

Answer 9

12,000

Question 10

Which union was founded in 1860 based off the NMU model?

Answer 10

ASCJ (Amalgamates society of carpenters and joiners)

Question 11

What was the significance of NMU?

Answer 11

The national scale model and increased funding allowed unions to compete with employers to benefit their best interests

Question 12

What were the manners of the ASE which made it more successful?

Answer 12

More moderate - used negotiation + strikes which was more favourable with the government and public as less was inconvenienced

Question 13

Why did ASE focus more on skilled labour?

Answer 13

Could provide funds to finance movements + by 1850 industrial developments meant more skilled labour was required so increased their importance

Question 14

What were the issues of NMU ?

Answer 14

Didn’t benefit working class as they had no leverage, which created divisions in unions between skilled and unskilled workers

Question 15

What is a fact to show the influence NMU had?

Answer 15

By 1874, 1 million trade union members - finally gave skilled workers an opportunity to promote their interests

Question 16

What was created in 1860, and what was its aim?

Answer 16

London Trades Council (led by George Potter), showed localised unions working together

Question 17

What was the significance of the London Trades Council?

Answer 17

Involved working class - before this were largely being ignored, aimed to represent those in London

Question 18

How many members were there of the London Trades Council in 1866?

Answer 18

100,000 - other branches also but would meet in London

Question 19

Why were trade councils able to effectively grow?

Answer 19

Led by figures of the ASE - also shows unity between movements

Question 20

Why did George Potter create the idea for the Trade Unions Congress?

Answer 20

The trade councils were still regional, also feared uprisings from smaller unions as they were upset at the moderate approach of the New Model Unions

Question 21

What was organised in Sheffield in 1866?

Answer 21

A meeting attended by 138 delegates organised by William Dronfield

Question 22

What was the purpose of the Sheffield Meeting 1866?

Answer 22

Intentions to arrange an annual conference for unions to speak about aims and desires, so goals of all could be met

Question 23

What did the 1866 Sheffield Meeting inspire in Manchester?

Answer 23

Another meeting attended by 34 delegates, representing 118,000 members , arranged by Samuel Nicholson

Question 24

What was the significance of these trade union meetings ?

Answer 24

Joined skilled and unskilled unions

Question 25

What was declared in 1867, effecting larger unions?

Answer 25

There funds would not be protected under the 1855 Friendly Societies Act even if they had registered

Question 26

How was it discovered unions funds weren’t protected in 1867?

Answer 26

Legal case, Bradford Boilermaker’s funds stolen by its treasurer

Question 27

What year was the Trade Unions Congress created?

Answer 27

1868

Question 28

Why was the TUC crated in 1868?

Answer 28

Larger unions wanted to protect their funds so became more beneficial to create a national body

Question 29

How was the creation of the TUC helped by the 1867 reform act?

Answer 29

Working men enjoyed more political influence in Britain

Question 30

What was proposed at the 2nd TUC meeting in 1869?

Answer 30

Creation of a working man’s party, where working class could choose one candidate while middle class choose another - working class representation in parliament

Question 31

What was the new Labour Representation League’s aim?

Answer 31

Seemed to send working men to parliament + make parliament more aware of working class issues