This thesis contributes an in-depth study of a niche manufacturing industry making needles in the Redditch area in the nineteenth century. It provides a new historiography of industrial relations in needle-making, whilst also contextualising this small industry within the start of the early union National Association of United Trades and the American export market. The working conditions and industrial strategies used by the manufacturers and workers before and after the influential 1846 pointers’ strike will be analysed. It will be demonstrated that the sudden change to a non-antagonistic approach of both workers and manufacturers after this date initially resulted from interaction with the National Union, but also in conjunction with the economic necessity for the manufacturers in maintaining worker loyalty as a priority. The conciliation between the manufacturers and workers is contrasted with other similar industries of the time.
Date of Award | 14 Oct 2022 |
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Original language | English |
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Supervisor | Alexander Von Lunen (Main Supervisor) |
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