1. Luddites and Labor Unions

2. Workers in a New Economy
The new factory system changed families, towns, industry, and the nature of labor
Factories required a large amount of capital ($) to build factories and install machines

3. 3 Levels of Participants
Wealthy business people: Investors/Owners
Mid level employees: Ran factories and supervised daily operations
Low level employees: Physically run the machines
Investors expected a profit and shared little money with employees who were paid hourly

4. Value and Quality
No single worker was responsible for the quality of the finished product= very little incentive to improve job performance
Workers were plentiful- job could be easily taken away and given to someone else
Employers preferred to hire women and children because they would accept lower wages and take orders more readily

5. Cottage Workers Unrest
Handmade goods became more expensive than factory made items so they had a difficult time selling
1811 Textile Factory attacked in Nottingham, England
This marked the beginning of the Luddite movement
Luddites opposed machines that were “hurtful to the commonality” or in other words that put people out of work.
Burned factories, smashed machines
Avoided injuring people

6. Changing Labor Conditions
GB gov did not want to get involved in factory problems: Did not see regulating business as their job
Idea that if the gov provided too much help to poor people they would lose their incentive to work= Did not pass labor laws (work hours, safety, child labor, etc.)
Urged employers to raise wages and improve conditions
Strikes began
Why might workers be reluctant to strike?

7. Labor Unions At first Parliament banned labor unions
1832 Parliament hears the Sadler Report
Described abuses in factories
Passed laws to limit work hours
Children needed to be at least 9
1871 Parliament legalized labor unions

8. Woolen Workers Petition
See attachment in or schoolwires

9. Luddites Interactive Video