The growth of trade unions
The trade unions could no longer be ignored as a political force, even though the employers were unwilling to treat workers’ representatives as their equals. Trade union activity reached new levels in the 1830s. For the first time men began to organisse trade associations with nationwide aims, such as Robert Owen’s short-lived Grand National Consolidated
Trades Union, formed in February 1834.
As the trade unions became successful, more workers from other industries started to see the benefits of unions and formed unions of their own. The members of the trade unions continued to increase for two decades up to around 1850, but they were overshadowed by political movements such as Chartism. However, in the 1850s and 1860s, the foundations of a powerful trade union movement were established and membership increased rapidly from approximately 100,000 in the early 1850s to around a million by 1874.
Websites used for 'Growth in Trade Unions'
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/struggle_democracy/trade_unionism.htm
Trades Union, formed in February 1834.
As the trade unions became successful, more workers from other industries started to see the benefits of unions and formed unions of their own. The members of the trade unions continued to increase for two decades up to around 1850, but they were overshadowed by political movements such as Chartism. However, in the 1850s and 1860s, the foundations of a powerful trade union movement were established and membership increased rapidly from approximately 100,000 in the early 1850s to around a million by 1874.
Websites used for 'Growth in Trade Unions'
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/struggle_democracy/trade_unionism.htm