Trade Societies, Knobsticks, and Trade Growth Flashcards
What were early Trade Societies interested in?
Protecting skilled trades in their local area rather than all working people
What was the reason for the expansion of Trade Societies?
- Emerging factory system created an increased demand for workers
- Expansion resulted in lack of interference by the government in the way employers managed their businesses
Who were Trade Societies initiated by?
Skilled tradesmen
What is a ‘Closed Shop’?
Employing only individuals who were members of the Trade Union or were in good standing with the union
What was emphasis put on in the Trade Societies?
Securing their status within their professions
What did they regulate?
The process of apprenticeship within their trade and embarked on an early form of ‘closed shops’
What was a prominent trade society group and what did they do?
London Printers, in 1793 petitioned their masters for an increase in their fees given the rising cost of living
Were the early societies supported by those in trades and why?
Yes, because of the skills they had they could make improvements and their positions could not easily be replaced
What was the result of Trade Societies?
By the 18th century there was already an existing mechanism for workers to bind together in self-protection
What did Trade Societies threat?
Withdrawal of labour if their terms were not met
What did strikes rely on?
Sense of unity among workers, which was difficult to achieve
What was the problem with strikes?
Workers needed pay to maintain their families
How were those who continued to work viewed as?
Outcasted as their work affected the success of strike action
What could employers do and why?
Find other employees due to Britian’s growing population, draft in immigrants
What were the people who did not support the strike action called?
‘Knobsticks’
What were trade unions built on?
The provisions of trade societies, but provided a more concentrated level of protection of workers
What was different about trade unions?
A more formal affair which organised workers into a collective with the intention of achieving a common aim
What was the common aim of trade unions?
Better working conditions or wages
What was Trade Unionism a result of?
The free trade mentality which became government policy
Why was the growing population an advantage for employers?
If current workers weren’t happy then other workers could easily be found
What was the impact of the war with the French in 1793 (Napoleonic wars)?
Created the environment for economic discontent to grow with rising food prices and a greater cost of living
What was the impact of the growing population on trade unions?
Issues became a focus for all workers, regardless of skill of industry
What happened by 1799?
Weavers in Wigan had organised themselves into an association to stop wage reductions and this practice spread throughout the region
What did the Weavers show?
That there was a growing sense of mutual support
