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Which of the following statements about The New Model Unions is/are correct? 1. The New Model Unions were formed in the 1850s 2. The New Model Unions were formed in the 1880s 3. The New Model Unions comprised a Labour Party idea 4. The New Model Unions excluded women in the 1920s Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
The 'New Model Unions' emerged in Britain during the 1850s, characterized by the formation of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE) in 1851. These unions represented skilled craftsmen and focused on respectability, high membership fees, and negotiation rather than militant strike action. Statement 1 is correct as the movement flourished between the 1850s and 1870s. Statement 2 is incorrect because the 1880s marked the rise of 'New Unionism,' which organized unskilled workers. Statement 3 is incorrect; New Model Unions generally eschewed political activity and predated the Labour Party's formation in the early 1900s. Statement 4 is incorrect in this context; while these unions historically excluded women to protect the 'male breadwinner' status, the term 'New Model Unions' specifically refers to the mid-19th-century craft unionism phase, not a 1920s development [1].
Sources
- [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_trade_unions_in_the_United_Kingdom