workers reforms Flashcards
what was the trades dispute act
- 1906
- act reversed the taff vale decision
- ensured that unions on strike were protected from being sued by employers
what would pay for social reforms
1909 peoples budget
when was the national insurance act
1911
detail the first part of the national insurance act
- workers were given sickness benefit
- 10s for 13 weeks
- (7s 6d for women)
- 5s per week for the 13 weeks after that
- later became 10s for the entire 26 weeks
- 30s maternity grant for women
- 5s a week for disability
- free medical benefits under a doctor
who was this available to
- all workers earning less than £160 per week
- ages between 16-60
- to pay for this, weekly payments were taken from the worker- 4d, the employer- 3d, & government- 2d
what was the second part of national insurance regarding
unemployment insurance
detail the unemployment insurance
- aimed to support workers who were out of work for a short time
- would provide unemployment pay for up to 15 weeks
- 7s per week
- in trades such as shipbuilding, construction, engineering
- contribution was taken from previous wages
what were the limitations of unemployment insurance
covered fewer workers, did not tackle the problems of long term unemployment, only for insured workers in specific industries and only for 15 weeks
what was opened in 1909
labour exchanges
* helped to provide workers with information about job vacancies, but did not help to create work during times of depression
what was introduced in 1908 and what was the response to this
- miners to work a maximum of 8 1/2 hours per day put into law
- some areas the miners objected to having to be under controls which restricted their earning power
- to evade problems, mine owners introduced round the clock 8 hour shifts, making conditions worse- meant more night work
what was implemented for those injured at work
1906 Workmens Compensation Act
what act was introduced that would protect the rights of workers in sweated industries
1909 Trade Boards Act
detail the 1909 Trade Boards Act
- set up by winston churchill
- would deal with sweated industries- trades in urban centres which were not protected by trade unions
- set up minimum wages and maximum hours
- but govt did not really have the means to enforce this
what was introduced for shop workers
the shops act
* shop assistants were given 1/2 a day off, as well as on a sunday
response to national insurance from workers and labour
- churchills trade boards act of 1909 was initially opposed by the unions
- minimum wage initially seen as undermining the customary rights of unions to negotiate differentials
- labour wanted national insurance to be funded wholly from the taxation of the rich/wealthy
- lloyd george pacified labour by introducing payment for MPs - a committment which he delivered in 1911
response from the friendly societies
- many people initially opposed- already paid money to friendly societies
- friendly societies= non-profit making bodies which pooled contributions from members and it paid out when members were in need
- workers doubted that they would gain more from a state plan than from their own private insurance
- friendly societies generally operated better than the state schemes which the states replaced them with
response from the medical profession
- the british medical association opposed national insurance
- feared the status of their profession would be lowered if the government paid them
response from the conservative party
- conservatives traditional, against state intervention, laissez-faire belief
- battle of free trade vs protectionism
- conservatives attacked budget/reforms- saying DLG was waging war on the rich
- budget protest league was formed, and delayed it in the commons from ten weeks
