Trade Unions 1880s-1914

Question 1

how many members were in the trade unions in 1888?

Answer 1

750,000
10% of all adult male workers in the economy, small proportion of workforce

Question 2

who were the New Model Unions for?

Answer 2

skilled workers
artisan class

Question 3

who was New Unionism for?

Answer 3

unskilled and semi-skilled workers

Question 4

how did employers try to combat the power of trade unions during this period?

Answer 4

blackleg labour provided by the National Free Labour Association, which provided substitute workers to replace unskilled workers when they were striking, instead of granting their decisions

Question 5

what was Taff Vale?

Answer 5

trade unions were sued for £23,000 in compensation after damages to a railway

Question 6

how did Taff Vale damage trade unions?

Answer 6

economically crippled them, meaning they couldn’t strike
they had to turn to more political action

Question 7

what was the Osbourne Judgement?

Answer 7

stopped trade unions funding political parties

Question 8

when was the most successful period for trade unions?

Answer 8

1910-1914
membership grew form 2.5 million to 4 million

Question 9

how did economic changes contribute to the development of new unionism? x4

Answer 9

• workers became more willing to stand up to employers in economic depression as employers more vulnerable
• now working in larger scale industries, factories, not small workshops
• large workforce, more pressure on employer
• rise in real wages due to fall in prices and profits, allowed more people to afford union fee

Question 10

how did the failure of new model unions contribute to the development of new unionism?

Answer 10

unions of skilled workers with little incentive to add unskilled workers
offered nothing to mass of workers
protectionist

Question 11

how did government legislation contribute to development of new unionism?

Answer 11

Criminal Law Amendment Act being repealed in favour of Conspiracy + Protection of Property Act which legalised peaceful picketing

Question 12

what was the period 1910-1914 referred to as?

Answer 12

‘The Great Unrest’

Question 13

what was syndicalism?

Answer 13

a form of revolutionary socialism that aims to overthrow the capitalist system and replace it with a socialist system based on the trade union movement

Question 14

how did the Liberal government respond to trade union activity? x5

Answer 14

troops were used to break up strikes, illiberal
Lloyd George was effective at negotiating deals between worker and employer
minimum wage for mining industry introduced
National Insurance Act 1911 helped workers
issues were typically economic rather than political so the gov was not directly threatened

Question 15

why did the trade unions become more militant?

Answer 15

education acts meant that workers were more politically aware of political ideas
trade boom boosted bargaining position of trade unions, could demand more

Question 16

what was Bryant and May Match Girls strike, was it successful?

Answer 16

1888
girls in match factories worked in very dangerous conditions, they had to dip matchsticks into yellow phosphorous.
they went on strike, and the company re-employed all strikers, and stopped the imposition of unreasonable fines
successful
inspired more strikes in different industries

Question 17

what was the Gas Workers Union Strike, was it successful?

Answer 17

1889
gas workers demanded 8 hour working days instead of 12
Metropolitan Gas Company quickly agreed
successful

Question 18

why did the metropolitan Gas company grant the demands of the workers so quickly?

Answer 18

very important industry which would crucial for whole country

Question 19

what was the Dockers strike, was it successful?

Answer 19

1889
West India dock workers complaining about poorly paid irregular work, and their bonus rates had been cut due to depression
Strike lasted for 5 weeks
workers were supported by union supporters in Australia
eventually employers gave into demands

Question 20

what was the May Day demonstration?

Answer 20

huge demonstration in favour of 8 hour working day

Question 21

why was trade union activity less successful after and during 1890s?

Answer 21

National Free Labour Association provided blackleg labour for unskilled workers which undermine the workers

Question 22

what is blackleg labour?

Answer 22

substitute workers
employers hired instead of granting demands

Question 23

what is the Trade Disputes Act 1906?

Answer 23

reversed Taff Vale judgment