1. “The labouring classes constitute the main part of our population. They should be protected in their efforts peaceably to assert their rights when endangered by aggregated capital, and all statutes on this subject should recognize the care of the State for honest toil, and be framed with a view of improving the condition of the workingman.” Grover Cleveland, 24 th President of the United States of America Labour Law Jake Palmer

2. Trade Disputes Act 1906 Liberals supported workers – new fringe support Won many votes from infamous Taff Vale Case Where Tories supported House of Lords’ ruling to make the trade union pay compensation for workers’ strike. Now meant that legal action could not be taken on trade unions for strikes or boycotts.

3. Workmen’s Compensation Act 1906 Merchant Shipping Act 1906 Allowed workmen to gain compensation if injured at work Even clerical workers provided they earn less than £250 Stupidity, Family, Casual Workers not covered - key weakness Amount of compensation gained not stated Difficult to prove injury sustained at work Instigated by David Lloyd George as President of Board of Trade Improved food and accommodation standards Hard to enforce

4. Mines Act 1908 Miners had eight hour days – health and safety 1848 hours for everyone else reduced to 10 hours But slowly reduced hours for same pay over time Minimum Wage Act 1912 (Miners) After six weeks strike Act was granted Set at 6s 9d – still low

5. Labour Exchanges Act 1909 Shops Act 1911 Government established project for employers to meet workers By 1914, 2 million workers registered 3,000 jobs found every day at 430 exchanges But more jobs weren’t created – didn’t particularly ease unemployment 75% workers did not find employment Provided half day off for shop staff But hours could still be easily made up with time on other days

6. Trade Boards Act 1909 Acted like Trade Unions Set minimum wages, maintained conditions and treatment for workers Initially covered 200,000 workers in four “sweat trades” which did not have trade unions and where hours were long and pay little Extended to six trades by 1913 and to miners Difficult to enforce as had few inspectors No national minimum wage until 1999

7. “Four spectres haunt the Poor — Old Age, Accident, Sickness and Unemployment. We are going to exorcise them. We are going to drive hunger from the hearth. We mean to banish the workhouse from the horizon of every workman in the land.” David Lloyd George, 1 st January 1910

8. Achievements Gave back the “human right” to strike Compensation could be gained Working conditions improved Those in “sweat trades” better protected x Compensation difficult to prove and cover limited x Conditions difficult to monitor as weren’t enough inspectors x Workers not in “sweat trades” not covered – not everyone benefited e.g. farmers x Unemployment not tackled or even really approached x Took over 100 years to enforce minimum wage

9. “You cannot feed the hungry on statistics.” Anon