We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Craft Unions, Welfare Benefits, and the Case for Trade Union Law Reform, 1867-75.
- Authors
Hanson, C. G.
- Abstract
This article focuses on the events related to the establishment of the Trade Union Act of 1871 and the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act of 1875 in England. From 1825 until 1871 they were semi-legal, authorized to negotiate about wages and hours but living in a twilight world in which their existence was always hazardous. From 1871 until 1971 they were privileged organizations, in the sense that special laws gave them a protection accorded to no one else. No one played a more important part in the contemporary labour lobby than Frederic Harrison, a young barrister who served on the trade-union commission of 1867-69 and wrote the minority report. In 1793 an Act was passed for the "Encouragement and Relief of Friendly Societies" but in 1799 and 1800 all combinations of workmen were forbidden. Thus it suited trade unions to disguise themselves as friendly societies both before and after 1825, for although the Combination Act of that year permitted them to negotiate openly about hours and wages, the atmosphere was still hostile to their development.
- Subjects
LABOR unions; WAGES; INSURANCE companies; LABOR policy; ECONOMIC policy; PROPERTY
- Publication
Economic History Review, 1975, Vol 28, Issue 2, p243
- ISSN
0013-0117
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/2593486