Discover how English workers and employers built a turning point in labor history. This thorough study explains the rise of union power and its impact on industry and politics.
From the late nineteenth century, the book follows how trade unions organized, negotiated, and influenced major industries like cotton and iron. It analyzes the shift from earlier, sometimes violent tactics to more formal, lawful approaches, and how that transition affected wages, production, and national prosperity.
- The difference between Old and New Unionism, and how methods evolved over time.
- How industry structures, such as joint-stock and limited liability firms, shaped labor relations.
- Roles of key unions, manufacturers, and regional networks in Lancashire and beyond.
- The political and economic implications of organized labor for England’s social peace.
Ideal for readers of labor history, economic policy, and the social forces that shaped modern Britain.