Early Trade Unionism: Fraternity, Skill and the Politics of Labour (Studies in Labour History)

Once the heartland of British labour history, trade unionism became marginalized in much late 20th-century scholarship. In a critical survey from the earliest times to the 19th century, this book argues for its reinstatement. Trade unionism is shown to be both intrinsically important and to provide a window onto the broader historical landscape; the evolution of trade union principles and practices is traced from the 17th century to mid-Victorian times. Underpinning this survey is an explanation of labour organization that reaches back to the 14th century. Throughout, the emphasis is on trade union mentality and ideology rather than on institutional history. There is a critical focus on the politics of gender, on the demarcation of skill and on the role of the state in labour issues. New insight is provided on the long-debated question of trade unions' contribution to social and political unrest from the era of the French Revolution through to Chartism.