2.Trade Unions and the Labour Party

Britain meanwhile had become a predominantly industrial urban society，and its working class organizations had increased in size and importance.Early experiments in trade unionism had died out in the 1830’s，but in the 1850’s new large kinds of unions were formed.In 1851the Amalgamated Society of Engineers was founded，which provided a“new model”for unions.It limited its memberships to skilled craftsmen；it charged fairly high dues and paid generous friendly benefits for sickness，unemployment or old age.This helped to keep members loyal.It closely disciplined its branches so as to prevent unauthorized strikes.Other skilled trades followed suit.

After the second Reform Act of 1867，most skilled workers had a vote.They could bring direct pressure on the political parties.They did not at first ask for direct benefits from the state for the working class.The latter still regarded the state with mistrust，but they were able to improve their legal position and that of the unions，so that they could gain better working conditions by bargaining through their own organization.

In 1868the first Trades Union Congress met in Manchester.Unions thereafter aimed at sending workingmen or spokesmen to Parliament，though not at first at forming a distinct labour party，for both Liberals and conservatives were ready to bid for votes by passing social legislation.During the 19th century there had been trade unionist MPs；but they were elected as liberals，and sat with the Liberal Party in the House of Commons.Gradually a more radical spirit appeared.The Trades Union Congress of 1890adopted a number of resolutions，which were actually appeals to the government to help to improve the living and working conditions of the British labourers.Some labour leaders argued that this could best be done by forming a new political party，pledged to carry out such a program.In 1893，the Independent Labour Party was founded，which would be independent of all other organizations.It demanded among other things，a legal 8-hour day，no overtime，no child labour，work for the unemployed and state provision for the sick，the aged，widows and orphans；but at first it gained little success.

In 1899the Trades Union Congress summoned a conference of all working class organizations that were interested in establishing aparliamentary Labour Party.The result was the“Labour Representation Committee”，which was formally established in 1900and soon to be called simply the Labour Party.It was not a socialist party but a labour party.It gained the political and financial support of the Trade Unions.At the 1906elections it returned 29members to the House of Commons and in 1910，42members.Naturally it supported and influenced social legislation introduced by the Liberal government during this period，and it gained two important victories on its own account.The Trade Disputes Act of 1906declared that unions were not to be liable for losses or damages incurred by their members going on strike，and that the union，as a body，could not be sued and was not liable for such losses.The other great union victory was won in 1913.The courts had just declared that unions could not spend money on polities，but soon an amending Trade Unions Act permitted them to raise special funds for this purpose，provided that members who did not wish to contribute were not compelled to do so.In 1924the Labour Party had become strong enough to control majority in the House of Commons and thus formed the first Labour government under the Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald.