The politics of trade unionism in a sweated industry : boot and shoemakers in late nineteenth century London
The thesis examines the changing character of London boot and shoemakers' trade unionism through a period (c. 1870-95) when the gradual mechanization of the provincial industry and the growth of American competition forced an intensification of the division of labour and an increase in sweating. It is concerned with the rise of a new unionist movement as a response to these pressures and to the labour aristocratic trade union leadership's inability to deal affectively with the problems of the lass skilled London shoemaker. Chapters 1-4 describe the development of the London boot and shoe- making industry and its trade unionism down to the mid-1880s. Chapters 5â10 describe the breakdown of the old division of labour through the decade which culminated in the 1895 lock-out and its consequences for trade unionism and industrial relations. The final chapter assesses the political radicalism of London shoemakers through the nineteenth century. The conclusions argue that fundamental changes within the division of labour in the shoemaking industry through the late nineteenth century produced a more militant trade unionism in the process of struggle for control over the new mode of production, employers' attempts
Thorn, Gary
DA Great Britain ; HD Industries. Land use. Labor ; HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
The politics of trade unionism in a sweated industry : boot and shoemakers in late nineteenth century London. The thesis examines the changing character of London boot and shoemakers' trade unionism through a period (c. 1870-95) when the gradual mechanization of the provincial industry and the growth of American competition forced an intensification of the division of labour and an increase in sweating. It is concerned with the rise of a new unionist movement as a response to these pressures and to the labour aristocratic trade union leadership's inability to deal affectively with the problems of the lass skilled London shoemaker. Chapters 1-4 describe the development of the London boot and shoe- making industry and its trade unionism down to the mid-1880s. Chapters 5â10 describe the breakdown of the old division of labour through the decade which culminated in the 1895 lock-out and its consequences for trade unionism and industrial relations. The final chapter assesses the political radicalism of London shoemakers through the nineteenth century. The conclusions argue that fundamental changes within the division of labour in the shoemaking industry through the late nineteenth century produced a more militant trade unionism in the process of struggle for control over the new mode of production, employers' attempts
politics trade_unionism industry london examines_change character london trade_unionism period gradual provincial industry growth american competition force intensification division_labour increase concern rise_new unionist movement response pressure labour aristocratic trade_union leadership inability deal problem skilled london describe development london making industry_trade mid describe breakdown old division_labour decade culminate lock out consequence trade_unionism industrial_relation final ass political radicalism london conclusion argue fundamental_change within division_labour industry produce militant trade_unionism process struggle control new mode production employer attempt