Trade Unions Flashcards by Georgina Anderson Ilic

What are the factors for the ‘Growth of Trade Unions’ essay?

Factory system
Government policies
Protection for workers
External factors

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What are the factors for the ‘Failure of Trade Unions’ essay?

Organisation- early trade unions
Organisation- grand national
Strikes & knobsticks
Government oppression

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What are the factors for the ‘Successes of Trade Unions’ essay?

Early unions
Grand National
New model unions
TUC

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What is a knobstick? (under strikes & knobsticks factor)

A worker who refused to strike due to financial reasons. Often Irish and desperate for work.
They were accused of undermining the movement & sometimes attacked.

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Reasons for growth of trade unions 18th century? (under protection for workers factor) (under strikes & knobsticks factor)

Increased industrialisation
Laissez faire policies
Collective action over smaller action

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When were there major strikes by cotton spinners in Lancashire? (under protection for workers factor)

1810 (4 months) & 1818 (spread to other industries & only ended when members were arrested)

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When was the Grand national created and how many members? (under protection for workers factor)

1834

Over 1 million

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What did the Grand National do? (under protection for workers factor)

Consolidated many of the separate trade unions under one

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What was a direct consequence of the 1818 strikes? (under protection for workers factor)

Better defined trade unionism

Establishment of Grand National

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What did employers introduce in response to the Grand National?

‘The document’

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What was ‘the document’ used by employers?

Had to be signed by workers which stated that they weren’t part of a union & they couldn’t join one

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What were failures of the Grand National? (under protection for workers factor)

Had few funds to support strikes, despite having subscription
Only 16,000 out of 1 million payed fees
Seen in Derby 1834, 1,500 locked out of work for being in union, GN could only pay for 4 months
The increased use of ‘document’

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When did Grand national collapse?

1835

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What were the Combination Acts? (under Government policies factor)

Made being formations of unions & making oaths

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What was the Master and Servant Act, 1823 (under Government policies factor)

Made breaking of contract illegal

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What did the creation of factories loose in terms of the workplace? (under factory system factor)

The master, journeymen and apprentices

- division between master and workers (connection lost)

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When were the Combination Acts repealed?

1824

Who were the Tolpuddle Martyrs?

1834,
6 labourers presented an offer of 10 shillings per week for pay & were declined, was changed to 6 shillings (people still showed up)
They were sentenced to 7 years in Australia

What was the reaction of the public to the Tolpuddle Martyrs?

Massive outcry.

Protests took place In April 1834, over 100,000 people & petition of over 200,000 signatures (was refused)

When was New Model unionism?

By 1850, started with ASE

When was the NMU , The Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) founded?

1851

Who led The Amalgamated Society of Engineers founded

William Allan

Believed respectability was the way to get their goals

Why was the ASE founded?

In response to an increase in unskilled workers.

Combined Old Mechanics, Steam Engine Maker’s Society & General Smiths

What was the aim of the ASE?

Protect the rights of skilled workers

What was the ASE's system?

-General secretary managed day-to-day affairs -A member fee (Skilled workers were often well paid, by 1852, had £12,000 p.a. - was also used to help smaller unions)

What was the number of ASE members?

1850s - 12,000 | 1874 - over 1 million

What was the most influential thing the ASE did?

1859-1860 Gave 3 donations of £1,000 to the builder's strike fund in London in their attempt to get 9hr working day. -Forced employers to comprimise -Showed effectiveness of NMUs

What were limitations of NMUs?

- Retained skilled workers only - Smaller unions couldn't join in on such matters - Restricted what trades could join

Who created the Trades Union Congress (TUC)?

George Potter & William Dronfield

What was the motive behind creating TUC?

To improve unions to get workers the best possible protection, via unity

When was the TUC founded?

1868

What were Trade Counsils?

Trade unions, in cities, that protected industries in that area. Created to protect workers in absence of other bodies 100,000 members by 1866 Led by leaders of ASE & ASCJ

What came out of the Sheffield meeting?

Creation of the United Kingdom Alliance of Organised Trades | Promised to bind trade unions in mutual support (collapsed due to finances)

What was the catalyst for Samuel Nickolson arranging a congress to discuss union issues?

Failure of the United Kingdom Alliance of Organised Trades | RESULTED IN TUC

What was the Friendly Societies Act 1793?

Made unions illegal

What did the TUC do?

Replaced Reform Union with 'Labour Representation League' + sent them to parliament

When did the government begin to charge opinion of trade unions?

After 1851 & creation of NMUs

When was the Trade Union Act passed?

1871 | Made unions fully legal

Who led the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (ASCJ)?

Robert Applegarth

When was the ASCJ set up?

1860