Subjects
British Trade Unions 1707–1918
Editor: W Hamish Fraser
978 1 85196 830 5: 234x156mm: £350.00/$625.00
978 1 85196 831 2: 234x156mm: £350.00/$625.00
The eight volumes of British Trade Unions 1707–1918 reproduce in facsimile the many significant pamphlets, essays, articles and letters on this theme from this important period in British history. Presented chronologically, the texts re-map the history of the trade union, contextualising its development from inception through to the twentieth century.
Drawing from a wide variety of libraries and archives, the collection brings together extremely rare material to illustrate the history of the development of trade unionism and industrial relations. Each volume is organized into broad themes such as trade societies, structures, ideologies, employers and employees, friends and enemies, and union among the unions. Making much of developments in industrial relations, various strikes and general unrest, the collection spans the period from the early journeymen’s trade societies as they emerged in the eighteenth century through to the end of the First World War, when trade unions were challenging the way in which industry was organised.
The set will appeal to scholars of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, economics, and social and political history.
- The first collection to bring together so many important documents on the early history of trade unionism
- A substantial portion of the material is from critics and supporters of trade unionism writing from outside the movement
- Most texts are reproduced in full, often from the single remaining sources in existence
- General introduction, volume introductions, introductions to each section and endnotes
- Consolidated index
Sample pages
- British Trade Unions 1707–1918: General Introduction
- Volume 4: ‘To the Workmen of France from the Working-Men of England’, Operative Bricklayers’ Society’s Trade Circular (1864)
- ‘To the Workmen of France from the Working-Men of England’: Endnotes
Contents
Volume 1: 1707–1800
By the King., a Proclamation, for putting into Execution the Laws against Unlawful Clubs and Combinations, and for Preventing Tumults and Riotous Assemblies, and for the more speedy and effectual Punishing of Rioters (1717); The Case of the Journeymen Taylors and Journeymen Staymakers, Residing within the Cities of London and Westminster, and Weekly Bills of Mortality (1721); The Case of the Master Taylors residing within the Cities of London and Westminster, in relation to the Great Abuses committed by their Journeymen (1721); An Abstract of the Master-Taylors Bill before the Honourable House of Commons; with the Journeymen’s Observation in each clause of the said Bill (1721); Answers for William Clark Deacon of the Taylors in Edinburgh to the Petition of Patrick McDuff Journeyman Taylor in the Canongate (1728); The Worsted Small-Ware Weavers. Apology together with all their Articles, which either concern their Society or Trade. To which is added, A Farewell Discourse, made by their first Chair-Man. All faithfully collected by Timothy Shuttle (1756); A Letter to a Friend Occasioned by the Late Disputes betwixt the Check-Makers of Manchester and Their Weavers; and the Checkmakers Ill-Usage of the Author (1759); Memorial for the Colliers of Scotland (1762); Information for the Magistrates and Procurator fiscal of the bailie-court of Aberdeen, pursuers against the journeymen-woolcombers in Aberdeen, defenders (1762); Articles of Continuation of the Society of Journeymen Taylors in Glasgow (1775); An Impartial Representation of the Case of the Poor Cotton Spinners of Lancashire, &c with a Mode Proposed to the Legislature for their Relief, and an Humble Petition to His Majesty in their Behalf (1780); To the Nobility, Gentry, Magistrates, and Representatives in Parliament, of every County and Town in Great Britain; more especially those of the town and country of Leicester. The Humble Petition of the Poor Spinners, which on every moderate calculations consists of Eighteen thousand, Five Hundred, employed in the Town and County aforesaid (1780); Answers for the Incorporation of Master Shoemakers in and about Edinburgh. To the Bill of Suspension and Liberation for Peter Arnott, Thomas Marshall and others, Journeymen Shoemakers in and about Edinburgh (1798); Replies for Peter Arnott, One of the Master Shoemakers, and Thomas Marshall, James Duncan, Thomas Cuthbertson &c, all Journeymen Shoemakers in and about Edinburgh, Complainers; To the Answers for the Incorporation of Master Shoemakers in and about Edinburgh, Respondent (1798); An Account of the Rise and Progress of the Dispute between the Masters and journeymen Printers, exemplified in the Trial at large with remarks thereupon and the speeches of Messrs Knapp, Raine and Hovell, both in the Trail and at the time of passing sentence; together with those of the counsel for the prosecution; with notes and illustrations upon the whole. Published for the Benefit of the Men in Confinement (1799); An Abstract of An Act to prevent unlawful combinations amongst journeymen to raise wages &c (1799); A Full and Accurate Report of the Proceedings of the Petitioners against a Bill intituled “A Bill to Prevent Unlawful Combinations of Workmen”; with the speeches of Lord Holland and of Counsel; and a Full Abstract of the Act; submitted to the serious considerations of all Journeymen, Workmen and others throughout the Kingdom. By One of the Petitioners (1800)
Volume 2: 1801–1825
London Journeymen Millwrights. Rules Adopted by the Journeymen Millwrights for the well-governing of their Society ( 1801); John Gast, Calumny Defeated: or, A Compleat Vindication of the Conduct of the Working Shipwrights, during the late Disputes with their Employers (1802); The Memorial of the Journeymen Calico Printers and Others Connected with their Trade (1804); Memorial of David George, Alexander Cowie, James Anderson, William Aitken, and William Fleming, for themselves, and the other Compositor-Printers of the City of Edinburgh; against Mr David Ramsay, printer in Edinburgh, for himself and in behalf of the other Master Printers in Edinburgh (1804); Gentlemen, The Master and Journeymen Mechanics, Handicraftsmen and Artificiers of England etc. (1812); To the Operative Weavers of Carlisle, And its Vicinity (1811); Considerations addressed to the Journeymen Calico Printers, by One of their Masters (1815); An Address to the Colliers of Ayrshire at the Formation of the Colliers’ Association in 1824, Printed at Kilmarnock in 1824, by H. Crawford Bookseller, and now reprinted for Distribution among the delegates of the Ayrshire Miners’ Union (1824); Combination and Arbitration Laws, Artizans and Machinery. Abstract of the Acts Repealing the Laws against Combinations of Workmen and Emigration of Artizans; Abstract of the Act for Arbitrating Differences betwixt the Workmen and their Employers; Speech of Joseph Hume, Esq., M.P. in the House of Commons on 12 February 1824, on moving for a Committee on the State of the Law, respecting Combinations of Workmen, the Emigration of Artizans, and Exportation of Machinery. Lists of the Committee of the House of Commons, of the Witnesses examined and an Address to the Working People by George White, Clerk to the Honourable Committee. (1824?); F(rancis); P(lace); , Observations on Mr Huskisson’s Speech on the Laws Relating to Combinations of Workmen (1825); Sixth Address to the Mechanics, Artisans and Labourers of the Manufacturing Towns and Villages of Great Britain by the Committee of Woolcombers’ and Stuff-Weavers Association in the Town and Neighbourhood of Bradford. (1825); John Tester, History of the commencement, progress, and termination of the Bradford contest, with a statement of the income and expenditure of the Union Association of Wool-combers and Stuff-weavers, from June 6th, 1825, to April 1st, 1826 (1826); Statement by the Proprietors of Cotton Works in Glasgow and Vicinity; Case of the Operative Cotton-Spinners, in answer to that Statement: Reply by the Proprietors and an Introduction and Appendix (1825); Narrative of the Late Occurrences at the Cotton Mills in Glasgow: in Answer to the Statement of these Occurrences by the Proprietors (1825); A Voice from the Coal Mines; or a Plain Statement of the Various Grievances of the Pitmen of the Tyne and Wear; Address to the Coal Owners – their Head Agents – and a sympathizing Public, by the Colliers of the United Association of Durham and Northumberland (1825); Address from the Glasgow Weavers
Volume 3: 1826–1839
These years saw a explosion of trade union activity with attempts to create nationwide organisations among cotton spinners. John Doherty was at the forefront of these as he was in the creation of the National Association for the Protection of Labour in 1830. Others came under the influence of Owenite ideas and sought to make trade unions the basis for a co-operative alternative to the emerging capitalist systems of production. Disputes proliferated, but so too did debates about the kind of economy and kind of society that industrial change was creating. These are well-illustrated in accounts from both employers and their supporters and trade unions and their sympathisers.
Articles of the Friendly Society of Journeymen Bookbinders of London and Westminster, agreed upon at a General Meeting of the Lodges, April 21st 1828 (1828); Address of the Committee of Associated Spinners in Glasgow to their Fellow-Tradesmen in Scotland and Ireland, on the Propriety of more effectually assisting the Spinners of Manchester, in their present important struggle (1829); A Report of the Proceedings of a Delegate Meeting of the Operative Spinners of England, Ireland and Scotland, Assembled at Ramsey, Isle of Man, on Saturday, December 5, 1829 and three following days (1829); ‘Trade Unions’, United Trades’ Cooperative Journal (1830); ‘General Union’, United Trades’ Cooperative Journal (1830); ‘National Association’, United Trades’ Cooperative Journal (1830); A Reply of the Journeymen Bookbinders to Remarks on a Memorial Addressed to their Employers, on the effects of a Machine, introduced to supersede manual labour, as appeared in a work published by the Society for the Diffusion of useful knowledge, with observations on the influence of Machinery on the Working Classes in General (1831); ‘An Address to the Journeymen Turners in and Around Glasgow’, Herald to the Trades’ Advocate (1831); ‘Meeting of the Operative Turners of Glasgow’, Herald to the Trades’ Advocate (1831); Lecture delivered by G. Kerr, Member of Trades’ Committee of Greenock in Cartsdyke Secession Church, 26 December 1832, on the Nature and Advantages of Trades’ Unions. Respectfully dedicated to the Working Classes (1831); A Brief History of the Proceedings of the Operative Builders’ Trades Unions in Manchester and the consequent Turn-out of the Journeymen Masons, Bricklayers, Joiners, Slaters and other Trades, with copies of Letters, Placards, Union Rules and Other Particulars (1833); An Impartial Statement of the proceedings of the members of the Trades Union Societies, and of the Steps taken in consequence by the Master Tradesmen of Liverpool with the correspondence between the Parties and other Particulars (1833); Statement of the Master Builders of the Metropolis in Explanation of the differences between them and their Workmen respecting the Trades’ Unions (1834); To the Operative Mechanics. The Dispute between the Mechanics and their Employers placed in its True Light. By a Friend of Both Parties (1834); Rules and Regulations of the Grand National Consolidated Trades’ Union of Great Britain and Ireland; instituted for then purpose of the more effectually enabling the Working Classes to secure, protect, and establish the Rights of Industry (1834); Trades’ Triumphant or Unions’ Jubilee!! A Plan for the Consolidation of Popular Power, and Restoring to the People their long lost Rights (1834?); Report of the Trade Council of the London Union of Compositors, on the Mode of Working on the Times Newspaper, with regulations for Casual Employment and Establishment Hours, adopted at Special General Meetings held on the 15th and 22nd of September 1835, in the theatre of The London Mechanics Institute (1835); Rules and Orders to be observed by the Members of the Journeymen Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Society in Manchester (Manchester, 1835); The Victims of Whiggery; being a Statement of the persecutions Experienced by the Dorchester Labourers; their Trial, Banishment, &c, &c. Also Reflections upon the present system of Transportation; with an account of Van Dieman’s Land, its customs, laws, climate, produce, and Inhabitants. (Dedicated (without permission) to Lords Melbourne, Grey, Russell, Brougham, and Judge Williams) by George Loveless, One of the Dorchester Labourers (1837); An Inquiry into the Origin, Progress, and Results of the Strike of Operative Cotton Spinners of Preston, from October 1836 to February 1837, read at Liverpool, before the Statistical Section of the British Association, September 14, 1837. By Henry Ashworth (1838); A Vindication of the Principles, Objects, and Tendencies of Trades Unions, or Associations of the Working Classes. By a Unionist. (1838); An Address from the London Trades’ Committee, appointed to watch the Parliamentary Inquiry into Combinations, to the Working Classes (1838)
Volume 4: 1840–1864
Debates on the value of trade unions among both friends and enemies continued with even greater vigour in the mid-Nineteenth Century, while, at the same time, more effective and permanent national unions appeared among groups such as glassmakers, engineers, printers and miners offering benefits to members that went beyond mere support in industrial disputes. There was a conscious effort to court public opinion and this began to get a response from some employers and from politicians, although there were still plenty of industrial disputes.
Chartism, Trades-Unionism, and Socialism; or which is best calculated to produce Permanent Relief to the Working Classes? A Dialogue. By Thomas Hunt (1840); [J Drury], Reply of the Committee of the Central United Grinding Branches of Sheffield to Earl Fitwilliam’s Speech at the Cutlers’ Feas, (1844); ‘Report of the Trade Council to the Compositors of London, on the proposed National Typographical Association’ The Printer (1844); ‘Society in its Past and Present State’, Flint Glass Makers’ Magazine (1850); On the Future’, Flint Glass Makers’ Magazine (1851); Trades Unions, What they Were, What they are, and What they Ought to be. In Bookbinders’ Consolidated Union Trade Circular (1852); Report of the Central Committee of United Trades on the Proceedings Connected with the Combination of Workmen Bill in the Parliamentary Session, 1853. To the Members of the Association of United Trades and to the Trades of Great Britain and Ireland (1853); ‘Strikes and Strike Allowance’, Flint Glass Makers’ Magazine (1854); Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Address of the Executive Council … to their fellow workmen throughout the United Kingdom and British Colonies (1855); Masters and Workmen. Evidence of Sidney Smith, Secretary of the Association of Employers of Operative Engineers, and William Newton, Member of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. Given before a Select Committee of the House of Commons on the cause of strikes and the desirability of establishing Equitable Councils of Conciliation, with Appendices and an Analysis of the evidence, by William Newton (1856); A Defence of Trades Unions in General and the Sunderland Shipwrights’ Society in Particular. Address to the Clergy and all who oppose such Unions. Being a Reply to the Rev. D.R. Falconer, Curate of Bishopwearmouth. By an Operative Shipwright (1857); Balance Sheet of the Strike and Lock-out of the London Building Trades from July 24th1859 to May 1st 1860 (1860); Trades Unions and Strikes: Their Philosophy and Intention by T J Dunning, Secretary of the London Consolidated Society of Bookbinders (1860); John Bedford Leno, An Essay on the Nine Hours’ Movement (1860?); Anon., Trades-Unions, Strikes and Lockouts (1860); T J Dunning, ‘Labour as a Commodity Considered in Relation to Trades’ Unions’, The Bookbinders’ Trade Circular (1861); London Operative Bricklayers’ Society. Report and Balance Sheet of the Dispute relating to an attempt to introduce a System of Hiring and Paying by the Hour (1861); George Potter, The Labour Question. An Address to Capitalists, and Employers, of the Building Trades, being a few Reasons in behalf of a Reduction of the Hours of Labour, &c. (1861); ‘The Sheffield Trade Outrages’, The Bookbinders’ Trade Circular (1862); Transactions and Results of the National Association of Coal, Lime and Iron-Stone Miners of Great Britain, held at Leeds, November 9, 10,11, 12, 13, and 14, 1863 (1863); ‘To the Workmen of France from the Working-Men of England’, Operative Bricklayers’ Society’s Trade Circular (1864)
Volume 5: 1865–1880
As some trade unionists began to emerge as national figures there were debates within unionism about the best tactics to be adopted to advance their cause. The so-called ‘Junta’ in London actively sought middle-class allies and emphasised that their unions offered an alternative to industrial conflict, while others continued to battle against recalcitrant employers, hostile courts and the erosion of traditional work patterns.
There was also a new awareness of the international nature of capitalism and of the need for both national organisations and international co-operation.
George Howell, Secretary of the Reform League , ‘To the Trades Unionists of the United Kingdom’, Operative Bricklayers’ Society’s Trade Circular (1865); ‘The Strike in North Staffordshire. Meeting of the London Trades’ Council’, Operative Bricklayers’ Society’s Trade Circular (1865); ‘Mr Potter and the London Trades’ Council’, Operative Bricklayers’ Society’s Trade Circular (1865); Mr Potter and the London Trades Council (1865); Trades’ Societies and Lock-Outs. Report of the Conference of Trades’ Delegates of the United Kingdom, held in the Temperance Hall, Townhead Street, Sheffield on July 17th 1866, and the four following day (1866); ‘The Tailors’ Strike and the System of Picketing’, Operative Bricklayers’ Society Monthly Report (1867); E S Beesly, The Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (1867); Report of the St Martin’s Hall United Kingdom Trades’ Conference Committee on the Trades’ Union Inquiry Commission till 7th August 1867 (1867); Report of the Various Proceedings taken by the London Trades’ Council and the Conference of Amalgamated Trades, in Reference to the Royal Commission on Trades’ Unions, and other subjects in connection therewith (1867); International Working Men’s Association, To the Trades’ Unionists of Great Britain and Ireland (1868); W H Wood, The Advantages of Trades Unions (n.d.); JML, ‘Sir W. Erle on Trade Unions’, Operative Bricklayers’ Monthly Report (1869); Trades’ Unions and the Cost of Labour. Speech delivered by Thomas Brassey, Jun MP in the House of Commons 7 July 1869 (1870); Trades Unions; An inquiry into their Rules and Working, Based on the Evidence before the Royal Commission; showing the folly of all attempts to raise wages by Violence and Strikes, and the beauty and Excellence of the Divine Law Governing Workmen and Employers. By Robert Jackson (1870?); Trade Union Bill, 1871 A Letter by Mr W P Roberts, (of London and Manchester) to Mr George Potter, Mr William Allan, Mr Alexander McDonald and others interested in Trades’ Societies (1871); Report of the Conference of Trades Delegates, held in the Town Hall, Leeds on December 2nd 1871. Called to consider the Statement made by Wm. Newmarch, Esq. in his address to the Social Science Congress lately held in Leeds. Published by the Leeds Trades Council (1871); Proceedings of the Miners’ National Association Conference, held in Leeds, on 18,19, 20, 21 and 22 November 1873 (1873); The Criminal Law Amendment Act. A Memorial to the Right Honourable Henry Austin Bruce, MP, with an Appendix of Cases under the Criminal Law Amendment Act (1873); Tracts for Trade Unionists No IV. The National Federation of Associated Employers of Labour. Report upon the memorial presented to the Home Secretary by the National Federation of Associated Employers of Labour December 13th, 1873. By Henry Crompton, Esq. , Barrister-at-Law (1873); Frederick Clifford, The Agricultural Lock-Out of 1874 (1875); National Association of Miners, Extraordinary Meeting of the Council held at the Mechanics’ Institution, David St Manchester (1875); The Wages Agitation on the Clyde. 25,000 men to be Locked out, Glasgow Herald (1877); Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Address from the Executive Council of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers to their fellow workmen throughout the United Kingdom, the British Colonies, and foreign countries (1879); George Howell, ‘Trade Unions: Their Nature, Character, and Work’, Fraser’s Magazine (1879)
Volume 6: 1881–1899
Trade union organisation spread among groups of unskilled workers and women workers amongst whom unionism had previously tended to be ineffective and sporadic. With socialist ideas influencing some of the most active leaders there was a demand for a legislative imposition of an eight-hour working day. Disputes tended to be on a larger scale and more embittered, with employers trying to claw back some earlier gains.
John Burnett, ‘Trade Unions as a Means of Improving the Conditions of Labour’, The Claims of Labour. A course of lectures delivered in Scotland in the summer of 1886, on Various aspects of the Labour Problem, edited by James K. Oliphant (1886); James Bartley, The Eight hours movement: the ‘points’ of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress issued by them to the Trades Unionists of the United Kingdom, in regard to the Eight Hours Movement (c.1886); Benjamin Tillett, ‘The Dockers’ Story’, English Illustrated Magazine (1889); John Burns, ‘The Great Strike’, New Review (1889); Henry Hyde Champion, The Great Dock Strike in London, August, 1889 (1890); George Shipton, ‘Trade Unionism, New and Old’, Murray’s Magazine (1890); ‘Trade Unionism. Replies to Mr George Shipton’, Murray’s Magazine (1890); Eight Hours Movement: Speech by Mr H H Champion, at Eight Hours Demonstration held at Aberdeen, on 17th May, 1890, Under the Auspices of the Aberdeen United Trades Council (1890); Maltman Barry, The Labour Day. An address delivered to the Trades Council of Aberdeen, on August 12, 1890, and now published by them (1890); Eva Gore Booth, Women Workers and Parliamentary Representation (1890); James Mavor, The Scottish Railway Strike 1891: A History and Criticism (1891); William Whitefield, The Miners’ Eight Hours Bill (1891); Harry Quelch, Trade Unionism, Co-operation, and Social Democracy (1892); Lady Emilia S Dilke, Trades Unions for Women (1893); Clem Edwards, ‘The Lock-out in the Coal Trade’, Economic Journal (1893); William Smart, Miners’ Wages and the Sliding Scale (1894); Leonard Hall, The Old and New Unionism. Being a Reply to a Leaflet entitled, 'To Hell with Trades Unionism' (1894); London Society of Compositors Socialist Group, Socialism and Trade Unionism: Wherein do they differ? (early 1890s); Robert Blatchford (Nunquam), The Living Wage and the Law of Supply and Demand. A Letter to Colliers. Dedicated to B Pickard, M P (1893); J M Ludlow, ‘The National Free Labour Association’, ‘Notes and Memoranda’, Economic Review (1895); The Case of Temperton v. Russell and others (1895); Amalgamated Society of Engineers, Notes on the engineering trade lock-out, 1897-98. (1898); Free Labour Frauds. A Study in Dishonesty. Reprinted from The Critic (1898)
Volume 7: 1900–1911
The new century began with some hostile legal judgements such as in the Taff Vale case, but in these crucial years trade unions learned to use their new-found political strength in association with the emerging Labour Party to unpick the worst of these. They also began to talk of the need for union amalgamations to create more effective and powerful bodies. Ideas of industrial unionism and syndicalism from the United States and mainland Europe began to be developed.
Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Picketing Case. Successful Appeal. The Taff Vale Company v. ASRS and others (1900); The Law and Trade Unions. A Brief Review of Recent Litigation, Specially Prepared at the Instance of Richard Bell, MP; ‘The International Transport Workers’ Federation’, The Dockers’ Record (1903); Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades of Great Britain, To the Officers and Members of the Trades Affiliated with the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades. Premium Bonus System (1904); George J. Wardle, Editor of “Railway Review”, Enginemen and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. An Argument for One Union (1905); Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, General Railway Workers’ Union, United Pointsmen and Signalmen’s Society, Railway Clark’s Association. Re Amalgamation. Report of Conference held at the Deansgate Hotel, Manchester on 3 February, 1906 (1906); Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants etc. The Attack upon the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants by the Amalgamated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. The ASRS’s Reply (1906); Lord Penrhyn’s Methods. The Press Gag, and How it was Burst. (1902); Herman Cohen, The Law relating to Strikes and Lock-outs. Issued by the Authority of the London Trades Council. (1905); Mary R Macarthur, ‘The Women’s Trade Union League’, Women’s Trade Union League, Women Workers: A souvenir of Women’s Labour Day (1909); J Ramsay MacDonald, The Law and Trade Union Funds. A Plea for ‘Ante-Taff Vale’; Tom Mann, ‘Forging the Weapon’, Industrial Syndicalist (1910); E J B Allen, ‘Working-Class Socialism’, in Tom Mann, Symposium on Syndicalism by Active Workers. Industrial Syndicalist (1910); Associated Iron and Steel Workers of Great Britain. Hawarden Bridge Lock-Out. Its History. John Hodge exposed. (1910); Harry Quelch, Social-Democracy and Industrial Organisation (1911?); Coal Trade Pamphlets. No 1. The Conflict in South Wales (1910); Walter V. Osborne, Trade Union Funds and Party Politics. A Statement of the Case by Walter V. Osborne (1910); W A Appleton, ‘The General Federation of Trade Unions’, The Dockers’ Record (1911); The Joint Board. Representing Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress, the General Federation of Trade Unions, Labour Party. Report in National Insurance and Reversal of the Osborne Judgment. Report on Special conference held in Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, London, EC (1911); Henry William Lee, The Great Strike Movement of 1911 and its Lessons (1912); F Hay & N Ablett, ‘A Minimum Wage for Miners’, Industrial Syndicalist (1911); Robert Small, The Cry from the Miner and the Claim of the Miner (1911); Will Phillips, The Great Strike: how the workers found their power; Lessons from the Coronation Strike, with a word to the workers (1911); J Keir Hardie, MP, Killing No Murder! The Government and the Railway Strike. What Caused the Recent Railway Strike? Who settled it? For What purpose were the Troops called out? (1911)
Volume 8: 1912–1918
The immediate pre-war years brought some of the most bitter strikes and from many directions the language was that of the class war. The need for workers’ collaboration in the war effort presented unions with huge challenges, such as dilution of skilled labour with unskilled workers, but also with great opportunities for advancing their cause, and generated a vigorous debate over what trade unionism ought to be in the post-war world.
Ben Tillett, ‘London Transport Workers’ Strike’, The Dockers’ Record (1912); Guy Bowman, Syndicalism: Its Basis, Methods, and Ultimate Aim. Compiled by Norman Young from a lecture by Guy Bowman, 6 April 1913, in Co-operative Hall, Little Newport Street, W (1913); G D H Cole & W. Mellor, The Greater Unionism. With Special Reference to Mining, Building, Engineering and Shipbuilding, Transport and General Labour, and to the position of the General Federation of Trade Unions (1913); TUC Parliamentary Committee. Dublin Dispute. Report of Special Conference held at the Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, London EC (1913); Trades Union (No.2) Bill. TUC Parliamentary Committee. Report of Proceedings of the National Conference held in the Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, London, EC (1913); W M Geldart, The Present Law of Trade Disputes and Trade Unions (1914); George R Shann, ‘Scientific Management’, The Workers’ Union Record (1914); ‘Taylor’s System of Scientific Management’, The Workers’ Union Record, (1914); ‘Taylor’s System of Scientific Management’, The Workers’ Union Record (1914); ‘Scientific Management and Trade Unionism’, The Workers’ Union Record (1914); ‘Scientific Management. The Skilled Man and the Unskilled’, The Workers’ Union Record (1914); ‘Scientific Management. Our Attitude Towards it’, The Workers’ Union Record (1914); J Beard, ‘The Call for Munitions’, The Workers’ Union Record (1915); ‘Munitions of War Act’, The Workers’ Union Record (1915); G D H Cole & W Mellor, The Price of Dilution of Labour. An Open Letter to Members of the ASE Conference, 30th December 1915 (1915); ‘Betrayal of the Labourers at Woolwich Arsenal’, The Workers’ Union Record (1915); War Emergency Workers’ National Committee, Compulsory Military Service and Industrial Conscription. What they mean to the Workers (1915); W F Watson, One Union for Metal, Engineering and Shipbuilding Workers (1916); John Beard, ‘First Triennial Conference. Full Report of the Proceedings in Birmingham’, The Workers’ Union Record (1916); Labour Party, Report of the Special Committee appointed by the annual conference held at Manchester, in January 1917, to inquire into and report upon the circumstances which resulted in the deportation in March 1916, of David Kirkwood and other workmen employed in munition factories in the Clyde District (1917); Philip Snowden, MP, Labour in Chains. The Peril of Industrial Conscription (1917); G R Carter, The Triple Industrial Alliance. Its National and Trade Union Significance (1917); W McLaine, Trade Unionism at the Cross Roads (1917); National Guilds. An Appeal to Trade Unionists; ‘Report on Leeds Conference, June 1917’, The Dockers’ Record (1917); J A Bellamy, ‘Industrial versus Craft Unions’, Labour Year Book 1916 (1916); Fred Bramley, ‘Craft versus Industrial Unions’, Labour Year Book 1916 (1916); Margaret Bondfield, ‘The Future of Women in Industry’, Labour Year Book 1916 (1916); Joint Committee on Labour Problems after the War. Advisory Committee on the Restoration of Trade Union Conditions, The Restoration of trade union customs after the war: a statement and analysis of the government guarantees; War Emergency Workers’ National Committee, Labour After the War: First Report (1916); ‘Memorandum of Conference between the Engineering Employers’ Federation and Stream Engine Makers’ Society and 13 other unions’, The Workers’ Union Record (1918); J T Murphy, The Workers Committee: an outline of its principles and structure (1918); J T Murphy, Compromise or Independence? An Examination of the Whitley Report with a plea for the Rejection of the Proposals for Joint Standing Industrial Councils (1918)