Author Description

The Trade Unions—What Are They? is a primer of the trade union movement in Britain and examines the convolutions of industrial negotiations as well as the intricacies that have to be unraveled by those handling the problems—whether of the application of the Incomes and Prices policy or of restrictive practices. This book traces the history of British trade unions and presents the biographies of five great trade union leaders of the past. Four famous trade-union cases are also highlighted, along with some important events and statistics. This monograph is comprised of 13 chapters and begins with a brief historical account of trade unions in Britain before presenting biographical sketches of five great union leaders: Tom Mann, John Burns, Ben Tillett, Will Thorne, and Ernest Bevin. The next section examines four famous trade union cases: the Tolpuddle Martyrs, the Taff Vale case, the Osborne Verdict, and Rookes vs. Barnard. The remaining chapters discuss some major events and statistics relating to the British trade union movement from the 14th to the 20th centuries, including laws, prices and incomes, the enactment of the Ordinance and Statute of Labourers in 1349 and 1351, and the strike staged by signalmen of the Taff Vale Railway in 1901. This text will be of interest to trade union officers and members as well as industry and government officials.