Unionism and Co-operation Flashcards
Who were ‘knobsticks’?
people in a union who didnt strike when the union did (usually immigrants who needed the money)
What were the features of early trade unions?
- early unions first expanded for workers to protect their interests in a collective action more effective than actions by a smaller body
- provided basic protection for members
- often formed for skilled tradesmen e.g. printers wanting to protect wages from increasing unskilled population - didnt want infiltration of unskilled into the skilled professions, by regulating entry of apprentices into industries
- practised ‘closed shop’ methods where jobs only given to members of a union - protected skilled professions from new members
- not a class movement, small/local with little interest outside their own districts
- e.g. London Printers 1793 petitioned for increased wages due to higher cost of living, with 539 signatures, successfully negotiated increase
How did employers respond to early unions?
- relative scarcity of skilled workers and damage of them not working made employers compliant e.g. in London Printers petition
- however growing population meant immigrants could be drafted in to replace striking workers - often Irish workers, received abuse for undermining the strike incl being called ‘knobsticks’ as those who didnt strike when the union did
What did trade unions do in the 18th century?
- ‘societies’
- regulated apprenticeships/wages - mostly under needs of journeymen
- scales of production grew so less localised ‘societies’ grew to represent the skilled
What problems did 18th century trade unions face?
gov grew alarmed and passed Combination Acts 1799-1800 against the ‘societies’
What did trade unions do in the 19th century?
- new Combers and Weavers Union striked to force hand of manufacturers
- Grand National consolidated unions e.g. supported Derby trades who had been locked out of work
- Tolpuddle workers made link between agricultural workers and industrial workers need for unions
What problems did 19th century trade unions face?
- Glasglow employers were harsh and had ready supply of labour, Glasgow unions had reputation of violence
- 1818 Philanthropie Society attempted to link unions
What was the impact of growing early unions?
- initial rise of militancy (organised and has strike fund)
When were there major cotton spinner strikes in early trade unions?
- Lancashire, 1810 (lasted 10 months) and 1818 (spread to other industries incl machine makers - only brought to an end after 5 arrests made - shows powerful as had to be defeated by gov-backed employers)
When were the Combination Acts repealed and what was the consequence of this?
- 1824
- emergence of more well-defined unionism, by 1834 a general trades union established
What was a successful early trade union before 1834?
- Grand National
- over 1 million members
- gave impression of united force representing worker interest with capacity to stand up to employers with one voice
- (in 1834 it formed a network of affiliated unions into one: General Trades Union)
What were the failures of Grand National?
- led to use of ‘the document’ by employers where workers signed to state they were not affiliated with a trade union and wont join one - secured obedience
- failed to support its members when they went on strike - of 1 million members, only 16,000 payed subscription
1834 - 1500 mill workers lasted 4 months without pay but eventually returned as Grand National couldnt fund them - collapsed 1835
What did the Combination Acts 1799 and 1800 do?
- made trade unionism illegal - sentence of 3 months in prison to any worker who combined with another to increase wages
- repealed in 1824 following strikes, attempt to reimpose in 1825 failed
What did the Master and Servant Act 1823 do?
- made breaking a contract punishable by a fine or 3 months imprisonment - regulated relations between employers and employees
What were the main reasons for trade union growth by 1834?
- factory system
- gov action
- protection for workers
- current climate/external factors
How did the factory system adoption cause trade union growth by 1834?
work used to be done in the home under small units of labour - incl a master, journeyman and apprentice
- meant direct relationship between employer and employee
- when factories became popular, this connection was lost, and teamwork
How did government action cause trade union growth by 1834?
- laissez-faire attitude - gave employers freedom
- 1799/1800 Combination Acts
- Master and Servant Act 1823
- failed to mitigate worker issues
How did protection for workers cause trade union growth by 1834?
- free trade meant workers had to protect own interests
- isolated action not successful - grouped together to balance power of masters
- 1791 weavers in Wigon formed association to stop wage reduction
- association of weavers spread to 14 branches in Lancashire by May 1799
How did the current climate/external factors cause trade union growth by 1834?
- high food prices and cost of living put low wages into focus
- created a suitable environmetn for trade union growth and general discontent
- war with new French Republic 1793 created economic discontent
- 1750-1830 - population 6-17 million
- postal service and rail network development meant communication easier, sharing ideas
