Trade Unions And The Birth Of Labour Movement 1886-1914 Flashcards
How effective were trade unions in promoting the interests of the working classes in the years 1888 to 1914
what were the values of socialism
-anti capitalism ( produces inequality )
-working class
(capitalism is a class society that exploits the lowers classes)
-collectivism
-fraternity and co operation
-social justice
what is a trade union
- a collective and organised group of workers, united by trade, skill or industry set up to seek to improve the interests of their members
differences between model and trade unions
-model, liberal, skilled, high fees avoid striking
trade , socialism,unskilled,striking first call of action
what were the two types of socialism
-dominant
example
-reformist socialism - making the people think socialistic , believed that it should be achieved peacefulky through parliament, dominant form of socialism
eg ILP,LP, keir hardy, ramsay mcdonald’s , annie besany
-revolutionary socialism , real socialism could only be achieved through violent revolution, prepare the working classes to revolt
minority view at the time,some synadclisys
what were the three socialist groups in britain at the time
-social democratic federation
-fabian society
-independent labour party
what were the ideas of the social democratic federation
who led
most important thing
-Hyndman
-based on hatred of liberals , unabled to work effectively with trade unions
-SDF promoted the ideas of marx , ideas of a working class revolution
-radical , revolutionary socialism was promoted
-published investigations that revealed the terrible labour conditions to the labour union
- dominated labour trade council
some trade union meme bets eg Ben Tillet
what did trade councils do
- provided a forum for socialist agitation
- contained members of different unions
what was the fabian society
-when
-how would socialism be achieved
-aim
-influnce
-1884
-middle class intellectual and detached character
-hostile to political activism
-opposed capitalism as it produced an unjust society, mass democracy and social intervention would achieve socialism
-rejected revolution and promoted peaceful method
-reformist socialist
-aim was to persuade men of influnce the truth of socialism - permenating the elites
-little interest of working with trades unions
- evolutionary socialism , influenced the later labour party
what was the ILP
when
where.
who
results 1895
-1893, based in the north
Keir Hardy led
-strikes had produced union militant and socialist supporters
-elected to parliament suggesting possibility of beating other candidates
founding conference in Bradford,
-avoided the word socialist
-Tom Mann- dockers leader helped lead party
-1895 stood for 28 lost all 28
-1900s 40+ MPs
what were the 4 main reasons for the emergence of the labour party
-socialism
-trade unions
-socio-economic problems
-indifference of the conservatives
why was socialism revived
-refer to book
-radicals became disillusioned by flagstones party
- poverty and inequality still existed
- Progress and poverty by Henry George
-influenced socialist ideas, attack on capitalism
-adapter liberal ahd socialist ideas
how did socialists spread their messages
- held open air meetings
- stood outside of factories
- organised unskilled workers to strike
What reforms of ILP did Ty want
- practical reforms
-8hr working day, national scheme of unemployment, tax on unearned income and the end of child labour
what and when was the LRC set up
-1900
- Trades union congress voted to hold a conference of various labour groups and societies to discuss how to increase parliamentary representation
- LRC set up in 1900
-political organisation whose purpose was to represent working class interests in parliament
what and when was the lib lab pact
-1903, secret pact over electoral policy
- agreed not to put candidates against the liberals
-in exchange for 35 constituencies
what were the reasons for the spread of new unionism
-uncertain economic conditions, tough conditions made workers less passive and more ready to fight for wages
-spread of education amounts the labouring classes, achieved legal status in 1875 under conspiracy and protection of property act
-socialists outside or factories
-high profile strikes
-little tenure of security and poor rates of pay
what and when was bryant and may match girl strike
- statistics
why
who
-1888
-sue to poor working conditions, low pay and 70 hour working week
- led by annie besant
-strike made national headlines and gained public sympathy leading to some succes and the setting up of own union
-use of direct action
what were the gas workers strikes
-when
-significance
-why
-1889, to reduce working day from 12 to 8hrs
-significant as it showed the power of collective bargaining and led to the recognition of trade unions
-working class becoming more united in their aims
when were the Dockers strikes
what
-1889, 100,000 for 5 weeks, gained support from australia
-donation of 30,000
-led to the setting up of the general labourers union which had over 30.000 members
significance of strikes
-highlighted that working classes could achieve their aims and that they were no longer going to be passive
how many members of trade unions in
1888
1900
1914
-750,00
-2 million
-4 million
eval of strikes and new unions , decreased trade union spirit going into the 1890s
-closed shop
-defeat of amalgamated engineering union
-didn’t include all trades and resistance to closed shops emerged
-trade unions began to press for the introduction of closed shops , employers were against this and organised non union behaviour
-police protection organised by industries who preferred to emoly non unioners
-employers federation emerged with lists on non unioners
-engineering union defeated and forced to give in 1897 after the demand for 8 hr working day
Alliance between trade unions and the labour party
-emergence of lab
impact of lab - example
-trade unions had high levels of support for socialist movements
-labour emerged as a working class political party to protect working laws interests
-LRC created
-labour able to influnce social reforms of liberals , school meals act 1906, trades disputes act
what was the taff vale case
-significance
- case of 1900,
unofficial strikes by railway workers in south wales received backing by amalgamated railway society which resulted in the taff vale railway company beinh out of out money
-led to union being sued for 23,000 and 20,000 in legal fees
-and implicates that unions were responsible for any damages they caused
-fear over future strikes, did not want to pay - undermined the importance of trade unions left them unable to push their aims
reverse if taff vale and strengthening of lab
-taff vale reversed in trades disputes act (1906)
-meant unions no longer liable for damages
-strike action and peaceful picketing were made legal
- gavw trade unions a strong post it in for future
-strengthened the political alliance between lab and tus, saw the need for parliamentary representation to protect their legal rights
what was the Osborne case
-1909, walter obsbroje rejected to his union , railways servants using his subscription to support the lab party
- lords voted in favour
-labour couldny afford to take seat without financial backing
Trade union act (1913)
- partially reversed the osborne judgment and allowed trade unions to set up a separate political fund
What was the great unrest
-when
-signify fe and example or act
-local variations
-clyde river
New unions, industries
-1910-1914 a period of significant industrial strike actions which saw more than 3,000 strikes wiyh 1,200 in 1913 alone
-they often secured better pay and conditions for workers eg minimum wage act for mining 1912
-mostly active in coal mining, textiles and transportation
-new unions of semi skilled workers most militant
-local variations existed eg in glasgow was more unified and cohenrant
-strength of water front organisation by Clyde river - waterfront union for seamen
what was synaclism
signifabce
-revolutionary
-offshoot of socialism based on anti capitalist sentiment maimed for workers to run all industry , radical stance
- this caused conflicts within trade union movement
- triple alliance was beloved to be the preserve of syndicalism
-radical attitudes damaged more moderate campaigns
-associated union action with a more revolutionary political purpose
eval of syndicalism
-lacks popular support as politicians respected parliamentary methods with majority of public understanding that the triple alliance was not part of the movement and aimed for advancement in wages and protection of workers
what was triple alliance
- miners, railwaymen , transport workers
- sympathy strike action
what was the lyon’s vs wilkins case
-interrupter disraeli trade unions act in a way that restrickee the right to picket
Arguments in favour of socialism being a main factor in the emergence of the Labour Party
Eval
both Keir Hardie and Ramsay MacDonald – central figures in the creation of the LRC in 1900 – were members of the Fabians. The Fabians had been promoting socialist ideals since their formation in 1884
• the SDF was a founding member of the LRC in 1900 and had been espousing a Marxist socialist platform for two decades
• in opposition to the extract, it could be argued that the key development in the creation of the LRC in 1900 was the growing influence of the new mass unions from the late 1880s onwards. Keir Hardie had had limited success in persuading the TUC to support the ILP until the new mass unions became more influential within the TUC in the late 1890s.
Arguments that favour trade unions playing a main role in the emergence of the Labour Party
Eval
• the unions which decided to participate in the formation of the LRC in 1900 provided the vast majority of the funding and the grassroots membership of the new party
• the Fabian Society and SDF were largely middle-class organisations more concerned with ideology than the practicalities of working-class life. The SDF resigned from the LRC in 1901 complaining that the programme of the new party was not socialist enough
• in opposition to the extract, it could be argued that there were clear links between the socialist organisations and the wider labour movement, for example Keir Hardie was both a Fabian and the founder of the ILP.
Conclusion in emergence of Labour Party
that the emergence of the Labour Party in this period was the result of a convergence of socialist ideology with the more pragmatic concerns of the trade unions. The new mass unions, which had been growing in significance from the late 1880s, were more open to socialist ideology than the craft unions which had previously dominated the TUC. Therefore, the conference of 1900 brought together groups representing different aspects of the labour movement who were able to coalesce around a moderate socialist platform.
