Unionism and Cooperation 2 Flashcards
What were the Sheffield Outrages and when did they occur?
A series of violent actions in 1866 undertaken by the Saw Grinders Union to stop employers undercutting their work
Why did Britain’s position as ‘the workshop of the world’ create the conditions for an expansion in New Model Unionism?
Growth of technical industries that needed skilled labour coupled with ‘victorian values’ of respectability and less violent action gave ASE and ASCJ more leverage with government and the public.
Why did the Liberal Party support the New Model Unions?
Because they could tap into their large support base for their own ends/political power.
Why was New Model Unionism not a success for working-class unity?
Because it divided skilled and unskilled workers.
Which organisation was founded in 1868 to act as a central body for trades unions in Britain?
Trades Union Congress
Where was Robert Owen’s model factory?
New Lanark, Scotland
What did Robert Owen use for the first time in 1794?
Sea Island Cotton
What famous ‘ism’ did Owen first use to describe his belief system?
Utopian Socialism
Who visited Owen’s model town in 1816?
(future) Nicholas I of Russia
Name 3 practical steps Owen took to improve the lives of his workers?
education, reduced hours of work, cooperative shop, housing, temperance, fines, infant school, expanded curriculum, productivity features, no punishments.
What act of parliament did Owen contribute to?
1819 Factory Act
What did Owen set up at Gray’s Inn Road, London for the benefit of workers?
A labour exchange
What did the London Co-operative Society, started by Owen in 1824 aim to do?
Sold goods at fair prices and shared profits with members.
What % of the population was in a Friendly Society by 1803?
8%
How did friendly societies mirror social attitudes by the mid 1800s?
Victorian ‘self-help’ ideas
Where is Robert Owen from?
Wales
What did Robert Owen do at 19?
Manager of his first spinning mill
What did Robert Owen do in 1794?
Set up his own factory and used American sea island cotton
What did Owen produce with his ideas?
A new view of society
How many habitants were at New Lanark and how many were young children from poorhouses?
2000 inhabitants, 500 young children
What did Owen improve and encourage?
Improved housing and encourage clean habits
What did Owen open in 1816?
First infant school in GB which emphasised character development
What did Owen reduce and do to improve the factories?
. Reduced the working hours
. Made the factories light and airy
. Built new cottages, parks and gardens
. Introduced a diver curriculum
. Introduced a scheme which gave workers goods at a cost price
What did Owen set up and what did it do?
A ‘labour exchange’ in Gary’s Inn Road London for the benefit of workers
What society did Owen set up and when?
1824 - London Co-operative society - sold goods at reasonable prices and gave profits back to all who bought goods there
Where did Owen go in 1824 and what did he do?
USA to set up an experimental co-operative village at New Harmony in Indiana
What union did Owen set up in 1834?
Grand National Consolidated Trades Union
Mutualism
Idea that well being is dependant upon people offering mutual support rather than seeking to gain advantage by competing against each other
Cooperative movement
Organisation whose primary aim is to promote the welfare of its members by working together
Dividend
A proportion of the profit generated by a company paid to those who have a financial interest in that company
Cooperative economics
Field of study which relates social equality principles implicitly within co-operation thinking to economic practices
Friendly society
Organisation of members who come together to provide benefits and assistance to each other in the form of sick pay, saving schemes, pensions
Friendly societies act date and what did it do?
1793 - regulated the activities of the emerging groups to keep abreast ant potential threat to an outbreak of war - more transparency
Why was the friendly society act good for workers?
They rapidly grew, legal recognition and legal fund protection, workers could form own organisation for mutual benefits