Unionism and Cooperation Flashcards
Define trade unions
Group of workers who formed societies in the same trade or industry, to prevent themselves being exploited and demand workers rights
Define knobsticks
Derogatory term for a worker, often an immigrant who was not part of a trade union, and refused to strike. Often caused by financial reasons
What were early trade societies?
-Provided basic protection to members
-Often skilled tradesmen who wanted to protect their wages and trade from the increasing unskilled population
What were early trade societies?
-Provided basic protection to members
-Often skilled tradesmen who wanted to protect their wages and trade from the increasing unskilled population
What methods did the early trade societies practise?
‘Closed shop’ methods which meant jobs were only given to members of a union - regulated entry
When did the London Printers petition their masters? How many signatures did they get? Outcome?
1793
593 signatures
Successfully negotiated an increase in wages
3 reasons for the increase in trade societies?
- Increased industrialisation had taken away choice of working hours +conditions
-Laissez-faire allowed businessmen to exploit workers
-Collective action over smaller action
When were there major cotton strikes in Lancashire?
1810 and 1818
How long did the 1810 strike in Lancashire last?
4 months
What was the Grand National, and when was it formed?
General trade union which consolidated trade unions
1834
How many members did the Grand National have?
1 million
What was introduced by employers to work against the Grand National?
‘The Document’
Had to be signed by workers to state they were not in a trade union and could not join one
How many of the Grand National members actually paid their fees?
16 000
Example of a failed strike under support of the Grand National?
1834 1500 Derby mill workers locked out of work due to failing to leave their union. Lasted 4 months without pay but had to return due to a lack of funding and support to continue
When did the Grand National fail?
1835
When did the Grand National fail?
1835
How much lower were food prices after 1820?
1/3
How much did GNP rise by after 1820?
16.8%
How many prosecutions annually between 1857-75 due to the Master and Servant Act?
10 000
How much were average wages a week for workers?
12-15 shillings - often lower
How did the factory system cause a growth in trade unions?
Created a divide between worker and master with no mutual progress - workers felt alienated and grouped together to balance the power of masters
When was the Unlawful Oaths Act? What did it do?
1797
Gave harsher sentences to reduce the perceived radical nature of trade unions and workers discontent - mor than 3 month sentences
-Ignored after 1815 when French threat had passed
What did weavers in Wigan form and when? How far did this spread?
1799 weavers in Wigan formed and association to stop wage reduction
Spread and the association of weavers had 14 branches in Lancashire by May 1799
How did the French revolution and war lead to a growth in trade unions?
-Economic discontent and high food prices created an environment of discontent
-Showed a growing sense of mutual support between workers who were unhappy with the situation and felt they deserved greater support
How much did Britain’s population grow by between 1750-1850?
From 6 million to 17 million
How did the desire for protection of workers lead to increased trade unionism?
-Free trade meant workers had to protect their own interests
-Became difficult to strike due to population growth as workers could be easily replaced
-Needed solidarity to be more forceful and ensure success - move from localised unions to national, collectivist organisations
Why did the Tolpuddle Martyrs form a union?
Pay had decreased from 9s to 8s then to 7s a week. Wanted to improve workers pay
What punishment did the Tolpuddle Martyrs receive?
Sentenced to 7 years transportation to Australia
When did the Tolpuddle Martyrs return?
1837 after being pardoned
How many men had joined the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers under the Tolpuddle Martyrs?
40 men
Where was there a protest and when, in response to the punishment of the Tolpuddle Martyrs? How many attended?
Copenhagen Fields, London
21st April 1834
100 000+ attended
How large a petition was there against the punishment of the Tolpuddle Martyrs?
800 000
Who was the employer of the Tolpuddle Martyrs? Who was the employer connected to?
Employer was James Frampton
William Ponsonby (MP) was Grand Foreman and was the brother-in-law to Home Secretary Lord Melbourne (who Frampton had complained to)
Which 2 philanthropic societies failed in 1818?
Philanthropic Hercules in London
Philanthropic Society in Lancashire
Which 2 trade unions were more successful in the early period?
-John Doherty’s 1829 Grand General Union of Operative Spinners in GB and Ireland
-National Association for the Protection of Labour
How long did these 2 more successful trade unions last?
2 years
Example of a physical attack on knobsticks?
Saw Grinders’ Union in Sheffield 1866
When did New Model Unionism emerge?
1850
When were the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) established?
1851
Which 3 independent unions were merged to form the ASE?
Old Mechanics
Steam Engine Makers’ Society
General Smiths
Why did the ASE form?
Concern in the growth of unskilled workers as there were so many workers, forcing wages down - aimed to protect the skilled workforce
What have historians argued that the growth in NMUs created?
An ‘aristocracy of labour’ which encouraged resentment between workers
Who led the ASE? What system was adapted?
William Allan
Rigid administration to ensure the organisation would last - Executive council in charge, members had to pay a fee
How much did the ASE have in income due to membership fees in 1852?
£12 000 p.a.
How large was membership in the ASE?
12 000
Where were the branches of the ASE?
From Lancashire to Scotland
When did the London builders go on strike, to gain what?
1859-60
Gain 9hr working day
How many donations did the ASE provide the London builders over how many months? Result?
3 donations of £1000 over 6 months
Forced employers to compromise and showed the effectiveness of NMUs
What union formed as a result of the success of the ASE?
Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (ASCJ)
When was the ASCJ set up and who led it from what year?
Founded 1860
Robert Applegarth from 1862
How much did membership increase by in the ASCJ between 1862-71?
From 1000 to 10 000
Why were NMUs like the ASE so effective?
-Used peaceful negotiations and collective bargaining to persuade employers and attract a more favourable response from politicians
-Formed positive relations with the Liberal party who were sympathetic towards the NMUs
How many members were part of a trade union movement, by what year?
1 million members
1874
Downsides to NMUs?
-Excluded unskilled workforce who were then forced to continue with old and unsuccessful methods of strike action
-Still not universal and only operated within their own trade
What reform was introduced which gave rights to workers who picketed peacefully during strikes?
The Molestation of Workmen Act 1859
What were trade councils?
The grouping of local trade unions from a given geographical area that met together to promote the interests of their industry within that area
When was the London Trades Council set up and where were their headquaters?
1860
Bell Inn
Who were the main leaders of the London Trades Council? How many members by what year?
Dominated by leaders of the amalgamated unions of the ASE and ASCJ
100 000 members by 1866
What were the motives of George Potter and William Dronfield?
-Wanted to bring all unions together regardless of their trade
-Desire to create a more universal body that actually reflected the views of all trade unions and not simply the biggest
Who was the leader of the Bricklayers NMU?
Charles Coulson
What was the Sheffield meeting? Who arranged it? What was the outcome?
-Arranged by William Dronfield
-1866 it set up the UK Alliance for Organised Trades
-Promised to bind unions in mutual support
When did the UK Alliance for Organised Trades collapse? Why?
1867
Due to lack of finance
Who was President of the Manchester and Salford Trades council?
Samuel Nicholson
When was there a general trades congress organised by Samuel Nicholson? How many delegates representing how many members attended?
June 1868
34 delegates representing 118 000 members
When was the Trades Union Congress (TUC) established?
June 1868
What did the TUC establish and allow?
-A universal mechanism for the organisation of British labour. -Unions could defend their members and promote working class interests with one voice
When was the Trade Union Act? What did it do?
1871
Made trade unions entirely legal
Where was the New Lanark mill? Who set it up? When did it run from?
Clyde Valley, Scotland
Robert Owen
1799-1828
What did Robert Owen believe in?
-Believed strongly in the principle of education and the importance of providing welfare for his employees
-Still wanted to create profit but not at the expense of his workers
What did Owen abolish at New Lanark ad replace it with?
Abolished punishments to raise productivity
Introduced the ‘silent monitor’ system - wooden block with black for poor behaviour and white for excellent - appealed to sense of social standing
How did Owen alter the working day for people?
-Day shortened to 12 hrs including a 1.5hr break for meals
-No children under 10 could work
-Free education for children in schools built on site
How many child apprentices did Owen take on from the local parish workhouses?
500
How maay months of pay did Owen continue with despite the mill being closed following the USA’s ban on cotton supplies to Britain?
4 months
Who visited New Lanark in 1816?
Tsar of Russia, Grand Duke Nicholas
What was set up for workers to provide goods at very little expense from 1800?
Proto-co-operative shop
Any amount of profits made were reinvested back into the community for education and children
How many cooperative stores across Britain by 1832, based off Owen’s New Lanark stores?
500
How much did Owen still make in profits annually by what year?
£300 000
1834
What amount on a cheque did Owen write for charity, being the first of his time? What was the impact?
First £1 million cheque
Silenced critics of his methods showing how he actually gained huge economic prosperity with his methods
What society was set up in London by whom in 1821, with what aims?
Co-operative and Economical Society
By Henry Hetherington and working men
Aimed to set up a communal house in Spa Fields
Which physician published a newspaper to circulate the ideas of co-operation? How much did it cost? When did it run between? Where did they set up a cooperative?
William King - ‘The Co-operator’
Cost 1d
1828-30
Where did the physician set up a cooperative?
Brighton
How many people read ‘The Co-operator’? How many societies had been formed by 1829 and 1832?
12 000 people
300 societies by 1829
500 societies by 1832
What did people who helped out with co-operative stores receive to ensure their long-term survival?
Dividend (share of annual profits)
What was introduced which allowed workers to trade goods with a credit note showing how many hours it took to make, in return for another product of similar hours to make?
Labour Exchange Bazaars
Name of the exchange bazaar set up in London when?
National Equitable Labour Exchange
Sept. 1832
Where else was an exchange bazaar set up but in 1833?
Birmingham
Why did Labour Exchange Bazaars fail?
Accumulation of unwanted goods
Who were the Rochdale Pioneers? What organisation were they part of?
Group of 28 men
Formed the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers
What did the Rochdale Pioneers set up and when?
New cooperative shop in Rochdale which formalised the model of co-operative business
1844
What business structure did the Rochdale Pioneers set up?
-Charging market prices for products
-Not giving credit
-Electing management
-Percentage of profit being allocated to education
-Emphasis on good weights and measures to maintain an
honest reputation
How many co-operative shops by 1863? How many formed after the Rochdale Pioneers movement?
332 (251 set up after pioneers)
What had been requested, in what year, to be set up to provide a wholesale service to supply societies across the region? What year was this introduced?
‘co-operative of co-operative societies’ requested in 1856
Set up in 1860
What was set up in 1863 for Cooperatives? What did it do?
Co-operative Wholesale Society
Collective trading power
What occurred in 1868 allowing greater trading of cooperatives?
Establish overseas trading depots as far away as Australia and South Africa
What occurred in 1815 and the 1840s which provoked a growth in co-operation?
Economic decline which motivated ‘hunger politics’
What were friendly societies?
Groups of workers who joined together to support one another when the need arose (usually illness or death). These became known as ‘friendly societies’ and grew following a reduction in government protection from the 1660s
What did workers do in friendly societies, particularly after 1817?
Paid into a mutual fund with weekly subscriptions. This fund was then used to support those who needed it at a later date. It was also used as a fund which members could use to enhance their positions and it was later expanded into a saving scheme and investment fund
What was one of the earliest friendly societies? What and when did this split?
‘Royal Foresters’ in Yorkshire
Split into the ‘Ancient Order of Foresters’ in 1834
What did governments fear about the growth of freindly soceities?
Thought they exhibited the same radicalism as that in France so wanted to regulate them to ensure conformity
When was the Friendly Society Act?
1793
Who did Friendly Societies have to register with and report how often?
Local Justice of the Peace
Every 3 months
What other actions did Friendly Societies have to do under the Act?
-Draw up rules to govern themselves which did not challenge government
-Documents had to be kept and given to courts when necessary
% ff population who were members of a ‘friendly’ by 1803?
8%
Fraction of population by 1815 who were provided with insurance through friendly societies?
1/3
Who could not join Friendly Societies?
Poorest workers due to the cost of membership fees
What were friendly societies exempt from?
The Combination Acts - were regulated and legal unlike trade unions
When were JP replaced and with what for registering Friendly Societies?
1846
Central department under of new ‘Register of Friendly Societies
Membership of friendly societies in 1815?
Over 1 million
When was the Friendly Society Act updated?
1855
How much did membership in friendly societies outnumber trade unions by what year?
4 to 1
By 1870
