CHAPTER XI 



VILLAGE TRADE UNIONS 

 (NINETEENTH CENTURY) 



Laws against Combinations. 



The policy of " laissez faire " was gradually driven out 

 by the Factory System, and the State began to interfere 

 more and more in industry. But the workman still had 

 difficulty in bargaining with his employer. It was evident 

 that the hungry man could not alone drive an equitable 

 bargain with the rich employer. Hence some combination 

 of labour became desirable. 



Early attempts at joint action 'were forbidden by the 

 State. In 1799, all " combinations of workmen to raise 

 wages " were declared illegal. Many employers, how r ever, 

 appreciated the advantage of dealing with unions of their 

 workers. It was impossible to suppress combinations of 

 workmen, for many such continued to meet in secret. 

 Strikes continued to be organized, and workers continued 

 to be persecuted. 



Every effort to secure the repeal of the law against 

 combinations was made. In connection with this effort, 

 Francis Place, a London tailor, became conspicuous. 

 As a result of his extraordinary ability and tact, Parlia- 

 ment did actually repeal the Combination Laws in 182i. 

 The Repeal Act, however, was considered too revolutionary : 

 hence it was cancelled and another substituted in the 

 following year. By the Act of 1825 " the right of collective 

 bargaining, involving the power to withhold labour from 

 the market by concerted action, was for the first time 

 expressly established. And although many struggles re- 

 mained to be fought before the legal freedom of Trade 

 Unionism was fully secured, no overt attempt has since 

 been made to render illegal the first condition of Trade 

 Union action." Thus write Mr. and Mrs. AVebb in " The 

 History of Trade Unionism." To mark their appreciation 

 of the services rendered by Francis Place to the cause of 



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