The Extent Of Opposition Between 1905-1914: Trade Unions

Question 1

What tensions did the 1905 rev expose?

Answer 1

-many tensions in tsarist society
-brought opposition to the fore

Question 2

What was the outcome of the 1905 rev regarding TUs?

Answer 2

-legalisation of TUs
-reduction in working classes discontent expected through better state-employer-worker relations

Question 3

What was an example of a TU reform?

Answer 3

-1912 insurance law

Question 4

What happened despite these reforms?

Answer 4

-the state continued fear independent working classes activity e.g. potential for rev’s to work through TUs

Question 5

What was a result of this?

Answer 5

-497 TUs closed down + 604 denied registration between 1906-10
-unions that survived were unions of better-paid male skilled workers - metal trades

Question 6

What occurred from 1907?

Answer 6

-econ depression + rise in unemployment with political clampdown
-this reduced any opportunity for union action

Question 7

What provided a new impetus for union action?

Answer 7

-Lena goldfields massacre 1912
-this followed the beginnings of econ recovery 1911 which gave skilled labour more bargaining oiwer in market place - new strikes ensued

Question 8

What did the strikes demonstrate?

Answer 8

-states failure to pacify working classes discontent expected 1905

Question 9

What added to anger and opposition?

Answer 9

-repressive measures to break strikes
-fines, lockouts + blacklists

Question 10

How did strikes prove to create little danger to autocracy?

Answer 10

-geographically limited as mainly confined to St.P
-only 12% of enterprises experienced strikes + generally strike St.P first half July 1914 only brought out 1/4 of manufacturing labour force