The Significance of Trade Unions in the Creation and Development of the LRC by 1903

The Significance of Trade Unions in the Creation and Development of the LRC by 1903

Over one hundred years ago, on 27th February 1900, a conference of

trade unionists and socialist organizations met to establish the

Labour Representation Committee (LRC), the forerunner of today's

Labour Party. However in 1867, the trade union movement in Britain was

limited to a mere 5% of the working class. The unions, although

initially uncoordinated and unsupported by the law had, by 1903,

acquired millions of members, legal protection and political

representation.

In order to understand the relationship between the trade union

movement and the rise of the LRC it is necessary to look at the

development of the unions in the context of the social, economic and

political conditions in the late nineteenth century.

Life at this time was pretty grim for the working class. Research by

Booth and Rowntree estimated that a family of five needed a minimum of

£1 a week to survive in reasonable health. He also found that 1/3 of

families had less than this. Skilled workers were financially more

secure, but still had no real political representation.

In an attempt to improve their circumstances these skilled workers and

artisans established their first trade unions in the late 1860s (these

are now known as new model unions or NMUs). These were so called

because they revamped previous trade union styles. They differed in

that they had relatively high subscription rates so were fairly

exclusive, they were nationally organized with paid officials, and

lacked a real political agenda; their aim was to improve their working

conditions and acquire respectabili...

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two thus allowing the Conservatives to gain a majority. This was

successful, and in the 1906 the LRC gained 29 seats.

In conclusion the trade union movement was crucial in the creation and

development of the LRC. The poor social, economic and political

conditions of the working class in the late nineteenth century created

an environment in which the trade union movement was able to flourish,

supported by a resurgence of the socialist left. As political reforms

were introduced both skilled and unskilled workers were able to demand

improved conditions. Political parties and employers saw these as a

threat and retaliated (employer's backlashes) the creation of the LRC

was the subsequent response of the unions and socialist parties who

recognized a need to represent the rights of the working class in

parliament.