British Trade Unionism [antikvár]

Chapter 1 : The Unions as " Schools of War " (1800-50)wcrCj 3tS " first-born sons of modern industry." So they were naturally the pioneers of trade unionism, the organisation of the economic struggle of the new class of working men against the new class of capitalist employers, against the competition " of all against all which reigns in modern civil soeiety."1 the social significance of the formation of trade unions and the conduct of strikes against the low wages, long hours and abominable conditions which marked thi early years of the factory system. on the spot What gives these unions and the strikes arising from them their real importance is this, that they are the first attempt of the workers to abolish competition. the recognition of the faet that the suprembourgeoisie is based wholly upon the competition of the workers among themselves, i.e. upon unions direct themselves against the vitai nerve of the present social order, however one-sidedly, in however narrow a way, are they so dangerous to tliis social 2 mA to Condition of the Working Class in England, p. 75 1 Ibid., pp. 218-19. 7