Unionism and Co-operation Flashcards
how did industrialisation contribute to unionism and co-operation
free trade took away independence+forced collective work
no more cottage industries
what two factors increased trade unionism
more factories= increased demand for workers could see their value
gov allowed independent regulation of business
trade societies
early organisations
skilled workers want to protect their trade
had a ‘close shop practice’ (only employ members of a union)
example of a trade society
London Printers 1793
were trade societies successful
yes, were needed for their trade
what tactics did trade societies use
strike+collective bargaining
some didn’t- wanted to protect families
knobsticks
immigrants who didn’t support union action
readiness of immigrant labour- undermined cause for worker protection
what facilitated the growth of trade unions
postal+rail= communication
led to Grand National Consolidated Trade union 1834
collection of unions
National Association for The Protection of Labour
1829
only lasted 2years
showed growing determination of unionism along broader lines
how were trade unions different than trade societies
bigger+broader interests
what was the most commons trade union action
strike for increase pay
how did population growth affect the trade union movement
1750-1850 6 mill to 17 mill+
power back to employers
how did the napoleonic wars impact the growth in trade unions
econ discontent-food prices up=demand higher wages
example of a group of workers protesting due to the affects of the napoleonic wars
weavers in wigon
stop wage reduction
1799
Association of weavers 14 branches lancashire in may 1799
how do the wigan weaver protests show the extent of the economic problems after the napoleonic wars
industry with above average wages
still demanding highers
how did the emergence of the factory system affect the growth of trade unions
employer+employee bad relations, don’t feel working for a common goal
conflicting values+interests wages vs profit
when was the combination acts repealed
1825
trade unions were now legal
why did early trade unions fail
employer power
too wedded to individual trade
what did the gov see trade unions an obstacle to?
wealth
french rev increase fear of unions
how did unions react to combinations act
still grew (postal letters) largely ignored
how were gov attitudes toward trade unions influenced
circumstance
prosperity=liberal gov
MPs e.g Peel- more open minded
example to show gov still favoured employer
master and servants act 1823
what was the impact of trade unionism growth for employers and the gov
rise in militancy
1810+1818 cotton spinners strike
spread to other trades
what was the impact of trade unionism growth on the working class
Grand national 1+ mill members
document introduced
what was the ‘document’
sign to say say not+will not be in union
if did could be fired
caused collapse of grand national 1835 lots of members left
why was the grand national not successful in the long term
16K/1 MILL paid fees
1834 derby workers strike 4 months- most left union+went back to work
union couldn’t fund those on strike
Tolpuddle Martyrs
dorset
unionism in countryside
lack of employment
6 farmers protested
what was the result of the tolpuddle martyrs
1797 unlawful oath act invoked (7 yrs in prison exiled to australia)
The Almalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE)
1st sign of model unionism
12,000 members
combination of 3 smaller unions 1851
reaction to industrialisation+unskilled lab
who did ‘new model unionism’ support
skilled trade
Beatrice Webb; ‘aristocracy of labour’