3: New Model Unionism

Question 1

define new model unionism

Answer 1

development of larger unions
by skilled workers
who preferred negotiation over militancy

Question 2

when was the ASE formed

Answer 2

1851

Question 3

what did ASE stand for

Answer 3

Amalgamated Society of Engineers

Question 4

how was the ASE formed

Answer 4

created by binding together 3 smaller unions - The Old Mechanics, The Steam Engine Makers’ Society and The General Smiths

Question 5

aristocracy of labour

Answer 5

coined by Sydney/Beatrice Webb
NMU left unskilled workers to fend for themselves and encouraged resentment within the WC who felt their interest was not being considered

Question 6

who was the general secretary of the ASE

Answer 6

William Allan
his job as general secretary was to manage coordination of local branches

Question 7

ASE branches

Answer 7

from Lancashire to Scotland

Question 8

within the ASE, who was formally in charge?

Answer 8

an elected Executive Council

Question 9

the ASE had a rigid what?

Answer 9

rigid administration system

Question 10

the ASE had an obligatory..

Answer 10

tax from members which levied strike pay.
in 1852, this fund was more than £12,000

Question 11

the ASE and the Liberal Party

Answer 11

by the later 1860s, the ASE used its influence to form relationships within the liberal party.
In return, the Liberals could tap into support of its membership.

Question 12

the ASE inspired..

Answer 12

the ASCJ (Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners) - 1860

Question 13

NMU was a successful/unsuccessful movement?

Answer 13

successful movement - directly promoted working class interests, inspired creation of larger, national TUs (but only in certain trades)
unsuccessful - divide between skilled and unskilled workers

Question 14

how did the ASE support other TUs

Answer 14

1859-60 London builders who were on strike to seek a 9 hour working day.
x3 £1000 donations meant they held out for 6 months and forced a compromise from their employers

Question 15

the TUC was formed 20 years after..

Answer 15

the failure of the first attempt at creating a ‘union of unions’ - the GNCTU

Question 16

who initially drove the idea for the TUC 1868

Answer 16

George Potter - London Carpenter
William Dronfield - Sheffield Printer

Question 17

what was a trade council

Answer 17

a grouping of local TUs in an area which met to promote the interests of an industry

Question 18

when was the London Trades Council formed and what did it do

Answer 18

1860, represented any WC who didn’t have a trade union

Question 19

an increase in trade councils..

Answer 19

promoted regional individuality and limited the scope for a national voice

Question 20

Potter’s idea for a Labour Parliament (yearly meetings) failed..

Answer 20

to impress the London Trades Council as its leaders thought this would undermine their control of TU acivities.
There was support however from regional unions (an 1866 sheffield meeting was attended by 138 delegates)

Question 21

Nicholson’s 1868 meeting (4 things)

Answer 21

manchester
attended by 34 delegates (representing 120,000 union members)
accepted as the foundation of the TUC
inspired Potter’s idea for a yearly labour parliament

Question 22

1866 Sheffield meeting

Answer 22

arranged by Dronfield
the meeting produced the United Kingdom Alliance of Organised Trades, promising to bind unions in mutual support
attended by 138 delegates

Question 23

the United Kingdom Alliance of Organised Trades

Answer 23

created at the 1866 sheffield meeting
promised to bind unions in mutual support
failed in 1867 due to financial problems and sheffield outrages

Question 24

sheffield outrages

Answer 24

1866
series of violent outrages undertaken by militant members of the Sheffield Saw Grinders’ Union
explosions and even murders of employers

Question 25

who was a major part of the Sheffield Outrages

Answer 25

Treasurer of the UKAOT (Alliance and Organised Trades) - William Broadhead

Question 26

government response to unionism preNMU

Answer 26

negative - placed sympathy with the employers who (in their eyes) were making Britain a prosperous nation

Question 27

why did the government response to unionism change (3)

Answer 27

NMUs were more respectable - negotiation over militancy the ASE was better financed and organised, which forced the gov. to take notice Britain’s economy relied on skilled workers so the gov. was forced to listen

Question 28

why was the 1867 Royal Commission set up

Answer 28

to investigate the sheffield outrages in 1866 and decide on the legal status of TUs

Question 29

what did the unions do when they heard about the sheffield outrages

Answer 29

they were careful to distance themselves, especially when the royal commission was set up in 1867

Question 30

conclusions of the 1867 royal commission

Answer 30

there were divisions so 2 reports were drawn up: - the majority said that unions should be partly legal but with funds restricted - the minority said that unions should be fully legal The Liberal Party favoured the minor report

Question 31

after the Liberal Party favoured the Royal Commission’s minor report, what happened?

Answer 31

the 1871 Trade Union Act was passed

Question 32

limited reform - 3 acts

Answer 32

molestation of workmen act 1859 master and servant act 1823/1867 reform general election in 1865

Question 33

molestation of workmen act

Answer 33

1859 conceded more rights to those who chose to picket peacefully BUT left the decision of “peaceful persuasion” to the courts (keeping government in control)

Question 34

modification of master and servant act

Answer 34

1867 - slightly improved but didn’t give great change. unions had been campaigning for the repeal of this act since 1858, but this act only removed certain parts

Question 35

1865 general election

Answer 35

at this point unions had the potential to mobilise/influence thousands, even if the majority of the members could not vote themselves. this election saw significant TU efforts to make more radical MPs go to parliament who favoured WC enfranchisement