Trade unions

when was the friendly societies act passed

1793

when was the master and servant act passed

1823

when was the gntcu established

1834

when were the rochdale pioneers established

1844

when was the friendly societies act passed

1855

when was the ASE founded

1851

when was the cooperative wholesale society set up

1863

when was the london trades council set up

1860

when was the royal commission on trade unions set up

1867

when were the sheffield outrages

1866

when was the trade union act passed

1871

when was the foundation of the trades union congress (TUC)

1868

what were early trade unions known as

trade societies

what was a closed shop practice

only employing those who were in a trade union

when were the combination acts passed

1799 and 1800

when was the corn law passed

1815

who were knobsticks

men who did not support union action such as strikes

what was the molestation act

illegal to pressure fellow workers to join strikes

what was the philanthropic Hercules

1818

first attempt at creating a union of unions

sought to unite the working class across all trades

five of the leaders arrested after a strike which effectively ended the movement

when were the combination acts repealed

1824

how many members did the gnctu have

over 1 million

what was the impact of the gnctu

presented the impression of a united organisation of workers

generated the use of ‘the document’ by employers

failures of the gnctu

remained a body of independent unions

relied on subscription fees that only 16,000 out of 1 mil paid

use of the document caused the union to collapse

what was the governments initial response to trade unions

laissez faire attitude, employers left to deal with the unions

impact of repealing the combination acts

rights of workers given more consideration

more liberal attitude as the country’s prosperity grew

what was the 1823 master and servant act

breaking a contract became punishable with imprisonment

a strike was considered a breach of agreement and strikers could be prosecuted

what was the case of the tolpuddle martyrs

six farm labourers formed a union to protest their reduced wages

unlawful oaths act used and the men were transported to australia

what was the ASE

established in 1851 and was the start of New Model Unionism

introduced the aristocracy of labour

ASE ensured all of its members paid their subscriptions and so could fund strikes

began with 12,000 members

what was the TUC

1860

sought to represent the working people of london

over 100,000 affiliates by 1866

dominated by the leaders of the ASE and ASCJ

more universal body for trade unions

what were the sheffield outrages

1866

series of violent actions taken by members of the Saw Grinders Union in Sheffield to try and secure better working conditions

what was the 1867 royal commission

established to investigate the sheffield outrages

led to the minority and majority report

what did the minority and majority report conclude

minority- full legalisation of trade unions

majority- some legislation including separating strike funds from general funds

due to political climate following reform act of 1867 the minority report became the trade unions act of 1871

who created new lanark

robert owen

what was new lanark

workers worked in the mills at new lanark under the condition of robert owen who provided them with welfare and education

what was the silent monitor

a wooden block which hung above each workers station and displayed a different colour according to the quality of their work

features of new lanark

minimum age children could work was ten

had its own shop

education provided for children

what were cooperatives

shops that shared their profits with customers

500 existed by 1832

who were the Rochdale Pioneers

28 men who formed the basis of cooperative societies

what were the rochdale principles

a percentage of profits should be allocated to education

management of the organisation should be in the hands of elected leaders

only the best quality provisions should be supplied to members

what was cooperative economics

social equality through economic practices

e.g. collective ownership of a business to divide profit among a greater number of people

why were friendly societies set up

in the absence of gov protection skilled workers wanted to be able to look after themselves through funds

what was the friendly societies act 1793

friendly societies had to register with their local JP and send reports of activity every three months

attempt by gov to regulate the activities of these groups

impact of friendly societies

provided support by insurance cover to 1/3 of population by 1815

what was the friendly societies act 1855

organisations had to register directly with the government

greater degree of support for friendly societies

key issues with old unions

old unions were trade specific and so lacked economies of scale

relied on striking which they couldn’t fund

trade unions were illegal and so easily crushed

significance of the tolpuddle martyrs

crushed the spirit of the early trade union movement

what was striking described as

a double edged sword

how many members did cooperative shops have by 1880

10k

example of the earliest friendly society

Royal Foresters in Yorkshire

why were the gov reluctant to bow to early trade unions

any form of regulation threatened to stifle entrepreneurship

why were workers disposable to employers in the late 1700

immigrants from ireland

no worker rights

overpopulation

what was it called when people stood outside the workplace persuading people to join a strike

picket line

what was the derby lockout

employers tried to force their workers to sign the Document which caused a citywide general strike in Derby

by feb 1834 2000 were on strike which the gnctu couldn’t fund

starvation forced many to return to work

by may 1934 1000 had retur