Working Conditions

1. Working Conditions

2. Wage earners • During the first century of the industrial rev a surplus of labor resulted in poor conditions for workers • 14 hour days, unsafe, low wages • Poorhouses emerged • Workers as a whole did not share in general wealth produced during the industrial rev

3. Union Movement • Certain leaders began organizing groups of workers to resist exploitation of the workers by business owners • Combination Acts • No labor unions • Fear of rebellion • Disregarded workers

4. Robert Owen • In 1834, organized the Grand National Consolidated Trades Union • Concerned for health, safety, and work hours of workers

5. Union • Union action, combined with general prosperity and a developing social conscience, led to improved working conditions, better wages, and reduced hours

6. Factories • Factory work meant more discipline and lost personal freedom • Early factories resembled English poorhouses • Cottage workers were reluctant to work in factories because it was so different

8. Child Labor • Factory owners needed more workers, thus turning to child labor • Abandoned children became a main source of labor from orphanages • Work hours were very long and conditions terrible • 12 hours days

12. Limit Child Labor • Parliament sought to limit child labor • Saddler Commission • Investigated working conditions • Factory Act of 1833 • Children 9-13, 8 hours • Children 14-18, 12 hours • No children hired under age of 9 • Mines Act of 1842 • Children under age of 10 could not work underground

13. Social Effects of Industrialization • Urbanization • Working class injustices • Family structure and gender roles within family were altered • Irish workers came to Great Britain • Overpopulation