Early Workers Unions

[LeftoverAnimal]

I live in Dorset England where the Tolpuddle Martyres created one of the First Workers Unions. For Christmas My Dad got me a copy of the act written in 1881 which said that all workers who created unions of workers would be punished. It reads:

CAUTION.
Whereas it has been represented to us from severalquarters, that mischievous and designing Persons have been for some time past, endeavouring to induce, and have induced, many Labourers in various Parishes in this county, to attend meetings, and to enter into illegal societies or Unions, to which they bind themselves by unlawful oaths, administered secretly by Persons concealed, who artfully decieve the ignorant and unwary,-WE, the undersigned Justices think it our Duty to give this PUBLIC NOTICE and CAUTION, that all persons may know the danger they incur by entering into such Societies.

ANY PERSON who shall become a member of such a Society, or take any Oath, Or asent to any Test or Declaration not authorized by LAW-

Any Person who shall administer, or present at, or consenting to the administering or taking any unlawful oath, or who shall cause such Oath to be administered, although not actually present at the time-

Any Person who shall not reveal or discover any illegal Oath which may have been administered,or any illegal Act done or to be done-

Any Person who shall induce, or endeavour to persuade any other Person to become a member of such Societies,
WILL BECOME
GUILTY OF FELONY,
And be Liable To Be
TRANSPORTED FOR SEVEN YEARS.

Any Person who shall be commpelled to take such an Oath, unless he shalldeclare the same within four days, together with the whole of what he shall know touching the same, will be liable to the same penalty.

Any person who shall directly or indirectly maintain correspondence or intercoarse with such Society, Will be declared Guilty of an unlawful Combination and confederncy, and on convictionn before one Justice, on the Oath of done witness, beliable to a penalty of TWENTY POUNDS, or to be commited to the common Gaul (jail) or House of correction, for THREE CALENDER MONTHS; or if proceeded against by indicement, may be CONVICTED OF FELONY, and be TRANSPORTED FOR SEVEN YEARS.

Any Person who shallknowingly permit any meeting of any such Society to be held in any HOUSE, Building, Or other Place, shall for the first offence be liable to the penalty of FIVE POUNDS; and for every other offence commited after Conviction, be deemed Guilty of such unlawful Combination and Confederacy, and on Conviction before Justice, On Oath of one witness, be liable to a penalty of TWENTY POUNDS, or to Commitment to the common Gaul (jail) or House of correction, FOR THREE CALENDER MONTHS; or if proceede against by indicement may be;

CONVICTED OF FELONY
AND TRANSPORTED FOR SEVEN YEARS

County of Dorset
Dorchester division

Febuary 22nd 1881

C.B Wollaston, Henry Frampton,
James Frampton, Richd. Tucker-Steward
William England, William R Churchill
Thos. Dade Augustus Foster
JNO. Morton Colson




That was it I am unsure about the exact date as the print was not great, but this is an interesting item in Socialist History. I advise anybody to reaearch the TOLPUDDLE MARTYRES as it is a fascinating story (true Story) I would like to know what other people think of this.

[flames of the flag]

strange
the governement was against union?
so basically they wanted people getting burned by their employers. Without a union no protest cant be made against stuff like sweatshop labour.
however, nowadays this type of resistance to a union is common. for example diamond miners in sierra lione working for debeers, a canadian diamond company, are amputated if they are caught trying to start a union. Of course, that's capitalism for you.

[LeftoverAnimal]

It really is sad that the workers a exploited by pig headed capitolist bastards, and the funny thing is that without workers the capitolists would be no where it really does show how greedy people can get
aagghhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrr it makes me mad, does nobody care for their fellow human why don't we all love each other, it really makes me cry! If I had power i would stop bastards like capitolists ruinig peoples lives, they only care for themselves and don't give a flying fuck about the lives of their workers and the people that it keeps poor, its fucking sick. I am just going to my room to cry.

[flames of the flag]

dude, if you think you have no power than you got the wrong idea, that's the reason the world is fucked. Stop thinking about it like that and fucking take action!

[LeftoverAnimal]

Totaly agree with you, i was'nt thinking in the right way. Sorry

[Kez]

Workers dont stike and unite because as Marx puts it they are "wage slaves". These people are content with haviong a shit wage, and shit conditions, as long as they can buy shitty material goods and look good. Am i right in saying so?
Im glad to say that the British Unions are getting better, not as strong as in the 70's but still

comrade kamo

Also, it is a fact that in the 70's the unions brought the labour govt down from power, from having too many strikes and making the economy fuck fuck. Therefore the rest of the population voted thatcher who almost killed the who trade unions from existence, now they are ressurecting

POWER TO THE WORKERS

[flames of the flag]

totally agree with you kamo
capitalism has clouded the human spirit to an almost irreperable degree

[flames of the flag]

score, i got a star! :)