18th Century: The Origins
1700s:
The precursor to modern trade unions, friendly societies, and workers' associations, begin to form. They focus on providing support, healthcare, and financial assistance to members.
19th Century: The Rise of Organized Labour
1824:
The Combination Acts are repealed, allowing workers to form trade unions legally.
1834:
A group of agricultural labourers from the village of Tolpuddle in Dorset formed a Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers to protest against declining wages. Their efforts were met with resistance from landowners, leading to their arrest and deportation to Australia. This case drew national and international attention, eventually leading to their pardon and return to Britain in 1837. The Tolpuddle Martyrs became symbols of the struggle for workers' rights and helped galvanize the trade union movement.
1868:
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) is founded, becoming a central body for coordinating trade union activities.
1888:
The matchgirls' strike at Bryant and May in London leads to significant improvements in working conditions and the right to form unions for women.
20th Century: Achievements and Struggles
1909:
The Trade Boards Act introduces minimum wage legislation for certain industries.
1926:
The General Strike, involving millions of workers across various industries, takes place in response to wage cuts and worsening working conditions.
1945:
The Labour Party, with strong ties to trade unions, wins the general election, leading to the establishment of the National Health Service and significant welfare reforms.
1972:
The first national miners' strike leads to a significant wage increase and improved conditions.
1980s:
The UK experiences significant labour conflicts, including the miners' strike (1984-85) and the Wapping dispute (1986-87), which reshape the labour landscape.
1997:
The Labour Party, with strong union backing, wins the general election, leading to significant labour law reforms.
21st Century: Modern Challenges
2016:
The Trade Union Act imposes stricter regulations on strike ballots and mandates a minimum turnout threshold for industrial action.
2020:
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the role of trade unions in advocating for workers' safety and protections.
2021:
The government introduces the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which includes measures to restrict protests, drawing opposition from trade unions and civil liberties advocates.
