Cooperative movement
Primary aim is to promote the welfare of its members by working together in pursuit of mutual progress
Master and servant act
1823
What did John Doherty do?
Formed the grand General Union of the operative spinners in 1829 to get better rights
Why were workers unhappy in the early 19th century
High food prices, machines replace men, common land stolen
Similarities between trade unions and cooperative movement
Better pay and conditions, pay for membership, working class organisations
Differences between trade unions and cooperative movement
Trade unions more forceful,trade unions relied on charity of workforce, trade unions not government approved (until combinations repeal 1824)
Why were the cooperative movement more successful than trade unions?
Earned their own money, over 2,000,000 members by 1900, any job type allowed, only £1 for membership which even the poor could afford
Why did the government introduce the 1793 friendly societies act?
Regulate emerging groups to keep threat low
Why was it a good thing for workers?
They could join a society without fear of reprisals
What percentage of people were in a friendly society by 1803?
8%
Who couldn’t join a friendly society?
Poor people as they couldn’t pay
New model unionism
Large scale unions of skilled workers who used more conservative methods of negotiation rather than militarism
Speenhamland system
1795- outdoor relief based on the price of bread and the amount of children
Reasons for poor law amendment act
Costs- (speenhamland system was very expensive due to corn laws raising price)
Utilitarianism- prioritising the needs of the many which wasn’t happening at the time
Attitude changes to poor- the poor should look after themselves
What did the poor law amendment act do?
Removed outdoor relief
Use of punishing workhouses
Grouping of parishes to manage workhouses
Creation of central board to oversee the system
Who managed the new poor law?
Poor law commission of three commissioners- Thomas frank land, George Nicholls, JG shaw-lefevre
Andover workhouse scandal
1845- run by an ex-Sargent Mcdougal like a prison. Inmates are with fingers, separation, breaking bones all day, very little food meant bones were taken to eaten the rotten flesh off
Impact of the scandal
System was changed to poor law board and brought more under government control
When was the ASE founded?
1851
How important were the ASE?
Over 1 million members in 1874
Helped London builders achieve their goal
Binding together of smaller unions
Government response to new model unionism
Thought it was better as it was a less violent approach and offered a means for compromise
Who were the Rochdale pioneers?
28 people who set up a cooperative shop in 1844 which gave a model to cooperative business
Principles of the Rochdale pioneers
Money should be provided by themselves and best a fixed rate of interest
Only the best should be given to members
Elected leaders who manage
Some profit goes to education
What was the trades Union congress
A grouping of unions which gave them more power by using one voice
How did the government suppress trade unions?
1799 combinations acts- organisation of unions illegal
1823 master and servant act- breaking a contract meant imprisonment meaning no strikes
1797 unlawful oaths act- banned swearing an oath in a union