National Association of United Trades for the Protection of Labour
Encyclopedia
The National Association of United Trades for the Protection of Labour was an early trade union federation in the United Kingdom
.
No attempt had been made to co-ordinate the activities of trade union
s in various industries across the country since the failure of the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union
in 1834. The idea to found the organisation was first proposed by the Chartist
newspaper the Northern Star
, and was then taken up by the United Trades of Sheffield
, who lobbied the Member of Parliament Thomas Duncombe
. This encouraged the Central Association of London Trades to convene a preliminary meeting for trade unionists in the city, which called a national conference for Easter 1845, held at London
's Parthenium. The conference founded the Association, appointing Duncombe as President and editor of the Northern Star Joshua Hobson
to the Central Committee.
Unlike the Grand National, which had aimed to rationalise the number of unions and encourage the formation of general union
s, the Association's primary aim was to allow the existing unions to more effectively lobby
Parliament for industrial reforms.
At its second conference, in July 1845, the Association formed a companion organisation, the National Association of United Trades for the Employment of Labour. This promoted Robert Owen
's concept of "union shops" - essentially producers' co-operatives. It also aimed to resettle workers on the land, an ambition which mirrored the contemporary Chartist Land Plan, but one which never came to fruition.
From August 1848 until the following summer, the Association issued a weekly journal, the Labour League. However, this was to prove the end of its period of high activity. In 1852, Duncombe stood down as President, and was replaced by G. A. Fleming, the new editor of the Northern Star. The Association continued to lobby Parliament, and finally saw some success with the passing of the Molestation of Workmen Act in 1859. It then focussed on proposing a Conciliation Bill. George Howell claimed that it was not dissolved until 1867, although George Odger
claimed that its existence was "a perfect myth" by 1866, when the United Kingdom Alliance of Organised Trades was founded.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
No attempt had been made to co-ordinate the activities of trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s in various industries across the country since the failure of the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union
Grand National Consolidated Trades Union
The Grand National Consolidated Trades Union of 1834 was an early attempt to form a national union confederation in the United Kingdom.There had been several attempts to form national general unions in the 1820s, culminating with the National Association for the Protection of Labour, established in...
in 1834. The idea to found the organisation was first proposed by the Chartist
Chartism
Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
newspaper the Northern Star
Northern Star (chartist newspaper)
The Northern Star and Leeds General Advertiser was a chartist newspaper published in the United Kingdom between 1837 and 1852.-Foundation:Feargus O'Connor, a former Irish MP forging a career in English radical politics, decided to establish a weekly newspaper in 1837...
, and was then taken up by the United Trades of Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, who lobbied the Member of Parliament Thomas Duncombe
Thomas Slingsby Duncombe
Thomas Slingsby Duncombe was a Radical politician, who was a member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Hertford from 1826 to 1832 and for Finsbury from 1834 until his death. Duncombe was a tireless champion of radical causes in the 27 years he served the North East London borough of...
. This encouraged the Central Association of London Trades to convene a preliminary meeting for trade unionists in the city, which called a national conference for Easter 1845, held at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Parthenium. The conference founded the Association, appointing Duncombe as President and editor of the Northern Star Joshua Hobson
Joshua Hobson
Joshua Hobson was a British Chartist and socialist who was the first publisher of the Book of Murder, a pamphlet attacking the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act...
to the Central Committee.
Unlike the Grand National, which had aimed to rationalise the number of unions and encourage the formation of general union
General union
A General Union is a trade union which represents workers from all industries and companies, rather than just one organization or a particular sector, as in a craft union or industrial union...
s, the Association's primary aim was to allow the existing unions to more effectively lobby
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
Parliament for industrial reforms.
At its second conference, in July 1845, the Association formed a companion organisation, the National Association of United Trades for the Employment of Labour. This promoted Robert Owen
Robert Owen
Robert Owen was a Welsh social reformer and one of the founders of utopian socialism and the cooperative movement.Owen's philosophy was based on three intellectual pillars:...
's concept of "union shops" - essentially producers' co-operatives. It also aimed to resettle workers on the land, an ambition which mirrored the contemporary Chartist Land Plan, but one which never came to fruition.
From August 1848 until the following summer, the Association issued a weekly journal, the Labour League. However, this was to prove the end of its period of high activity. In 1852, Duncombe stood down as President, and was replaced by G. A. Fleming, the new editor of the Northern Star. The Association continued to lobby Parliament, and finally saw some success with the passing of the Molestation of Workmen Act in 1859. It then focussed on proposing a Conciliation Bill. George Howell claimed that it was not dissolved until 1867, although George Odger
George Odger
George Odger was a pioneer British trade unionist. He is best remembered as the head of the London Trades Council during the period of formation of the Trades Union Congress and as the first President of the First International.-Early years:...
claimed that its existence was "a perfect myth" by 1866, when the United Kingdom Alliance of Organised Trades was founded.