NMU (new model unions)

NMU (New Model Unions)

à big growth for trade unions, they became bigger and richer than before, all due to their partial legalization in 1824 (unions tolerated), in 1850s-60s: a number of unions formed by skilled workers on a national basis à first time national federations were created on a permanent basis. The Webbs spoke of this generation as the New Model Unions (NMU), in ref to the English revolution with Oliver Cromwell (the new model army, very democratic and disciplined). All about negotiating with employers, not overthrowing the system: reformists (VERY diff from Owenites), trying to institutionalise collective bargaining, limiting the level of exploitation within the existing system.

Socialists at this time: seemed to be in decline with their view of changing the system, Owenites almost disappeared after end of the GNCTU (grand national union) in 1834. BUT the two mvmts do form some partnerships.

Characteristics of the NMU: created by skilled workers (a minority of workers, maybe 15% of total labour force in the country), so sometimes called the “labour aristocrats/aristocracy of labour”. They adopted some bourgeois values: the labour aristocrats did not want to overthrow the system bc had regular employments/wages, their goals = improve their conditions within the systems, so they adopted values like respectability, having wage for the whole family so their wife could stay at home (male breadwinner) à did not go well with socialist ideals of changing society completely. Jobs involved: engineers, cf ASE (Amalgamated Society of Engineers), carpenters, dockers… Goals = be recognised by employers, being social partners so could negotiate, also being recognised by the state à radical means to achieve those unambitious claims. Strong disputes in those industries: sometimes after a long strike the NMU forced employers to negotiate and recognise them as social partners.

Other characteristic: although they were sectional organisations (one skill only and only skilled workers) they also saw the necessity of organising beyond sectionalism, realised it would help if the whole working class was behind a certain section of worker fighting for its rights. So on top of the national federations, they also federated on a local basis (national federation + local unity) in the form of trades councils: appeared in 1860s-70s-80s uniting all previously existing unions (“unity is strength”). 1868: first umbrella organisation, the TUC (Trades Union Congress) to coordinate efforts of all those unions. Although moderate unions, federating all the trade unionists in the countries was close to the objective of the GNCTU à in a way back to Owenism without the socialist ambition.

Success of the NMU: two sides to it à workers in certain industries more united when negotiating with employers, BUT it also created bodies that became bureaucratic (to function at the national level, full time officials needed) à no longer on the ground working in meetings with bosses and MPs, so loss of contact between headquarters of the unions and the grassroots. + conflicts headquarters and ordinary members, cf about strikes à leading body/national secretary often refused strikes bc would be too costly (needed money for offices and officials): thinking of the union as a business//others thinking of it as a fighting body.