Scotland in the nineteenth century

10. Labour

Section 10.2: Combination laws

"appointed to inquire into the effects of the Act 5 Geo. IV c 95 in respect to the conduct of workmen and others in different parts of the United Kingdom and to report their opinion how far it may be necessary to repeal or amend the said Act."

The Committee considered that wherever large numbers of men were gathered to carry on any craft or manufacture then combinations were likely to exist in one form or another.

They found the workers' associations to be well organised often with presidents, secretaries, committees and printed regulations. They did, however, vary greatly in character, in some cases only consisting of a few hundred, members, in others many thousands. The Scottish evidence was from the weaving and coalmining industries.

"appointed to inquire into the state of the law in the United Kingdom and its consequences, respecting artizans leaving the Kingdom, and residing abroad; also, into the state of the law, and its consequences, respecting the exportation of tools and machinery; and into the state of the law and its effects, so far as relates to the combination of workmen, and others to raise wages, or to regulate their wages and hours of working..."

Scottish evidence

Alexander Richmond (pp. 59-64 and pp. 65-73) gave evidence on combinations of workmen formed in Glasgow in 1809 and 1811. The aims of these associations were to restrict the admission of apprentices into the cotton trade and fix a certain period of apprenticeship. By 1811, the main grievance was the great fluctuations in wages, and an application was made to Parliament to establish a rate of wages. Alexander Richmond acted as one of the delegates appointed by the workmen in Glasgow. Most of the employers opposed the idea of wage rates and a strike ensued in the cotton trade in Scotland, which later spread to England and Ireland. Mr. Richmond commented, "in all matters which depended upon the workmen... the Scots have decidedly taken the lead in the matters of general intelligence, and the workmen have been able always to take the lead, in preference to the population of England connected with the cotton manufacture." The government intervened in the strike and the committee were arrested. He claimed that the Combination Laws had prevented and suppressed combinations amongst journeymen in Scotland and, therefore, reduced the price of labour. He submitted details of the average wages and hours of work in Scotland.

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For terms of reference see Second Report, 1824. (Sessional no. 51)

Scottish evidence

Robert Scott, a stocking maker from Hawick (pp. 363-368), gave evidence on behalf of the men engaged in the wool trade in Hawick. He discussed the disputes which had arisen in 1816 and 1819 over reductions in wages and the apprehensions under the Combination Laws.

Henry Houldsworth, cotton spinner and machine maker in Glasgow (pp. 378-385 and pp. 476-484), reported on the state of these trades in Scotland. He considered the question of wages, exportation of machinery and whether machine makers would go abroad if the restrictions were removed.

James Dunlop, a cotton spinner in Glasgow (pp. 470-476 and pp. 551-554), discussed the effects of the Combination Laws in Scotland, the question of prohibiting the free exportation of machinery and allowing artizans to go abroad. The Combination Laws prevented men from combining to raise their wages and regulate their hours of work. It was thought that if artizans were allowed to go abroad, the country would lose skilled craftsmen and foreign competition would be increased. Machinery used for the manufacture of cotton, linens, woollens and silk should not be exported, but the free exportation of other types of machines should be allowed.

John Archibald Murray, member of the Faculty of Advocates in Edinburgh (pp. 484-486) and Sir William Rae, Lord Advocate of Scotland (pp. 486-489) discussed the question whether combinations of workmen constituted a crime under the statute law of Scotland. They quoted a number of trials in cases of combinations.

Appendix B: Return of cases of trial for combinations of workmen in Scotland. Among these were trials of papermakers in 1808, shoemakers in 1811, cotton weavers in 1813 and colliers in 1818 (pp. 500-524).

"appointed to inquire ... generally into the constitution, proceedings, and extent of any Trades' Union or Combination of workmen, or employers of workmen in the United Kingdom..."

The Committee was concerned with the workings of the Combination of Workers Act, 1825, and much of the evidence heard was from Scotland, especially the cotton-spinning and ship-building industries of Glasgow.

John Houldsworth, a master cotton-spinner from Glasgow (pp. 1-20), gave evidence on local combinations which he said had been in existence as long as he could remember. The workers' combinations were conducted by a committee of men chosen from delegates sent by each cotton mill in the neighbourhood.

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Money for the union was collected from the members whilst still in work to pay for a strike with the amount collected being highest just before a turn out, sometimes as much as 2-3s a week. During a strike the workers would usually post guards around the mill to stop blacklegs. Houldsworth gave example of workers being victimised and how one strike breaker was shot dead in the 1837 strike.

C. Todd, a master cotton-spinner from Glasgow (pp. 20-27), gave evidence on the workings of the employers' union and how policemen employed by the owners were used to guard their workforce during a strike.

Angus Cambell (pp. 30-53), a member of the Cotton Spinners Association of Glasgow, said that during the years that the Combination Laws were in force their association was kept secret. He also gave evidence on how the association prepared for a strike and said he had joined the union because of the employers' threat to reduce wages.