On The Industrial Relations During The Decline Of The British Hegemony 1880-1900

As an important part of the social relations, British industrial relations is consistent with its socio-economic development. Industrial relations is highly subject to the economic, political and social situation. It's generally considered that the British Hegemony declined in the last 20 years of 19th century. During this period, the economic depression which lasted for 20 years had a profound impact on the British industrial relations. Because of the decline of the economic status, the working class launched a series of strikes under the leadership of the union, while the Government conducted a harsh repression under the request of the employers. Government's pressure and the failure of the strikes prompted the working class political consciousness.The working class attempted to establish an independent working class party. In the face of the intensification of industrial conflicts and the new changes in the field of industrial relations, the British Government took multiple intervention strategies under the guidance of New Liberalism and achieved positive results at last.This article is divided into three chapters, the major elements as following:Chapter One mainly discusses the background of the British industrial relations from 1880 to 1900. Section One describes the trend of British industrial relations before 1880. British reached the peak of the economy from 1850s to the late of 1870s. The industrial relations of this period was relatively moderate because of the development of social and economic, the prevalence of unionism and the struggle forms of "new model unions". Section Two describes the revival of the socialist movement. The revival of the socialist movement promoted the development of industrial relations from 1880 to 1892. The industrial relations presented distinctly millitant due to the combination of the new trade union movement. Section Three describes the development of independent labor movement. With the trade unions participating in politics and the Labour Party setting up, labor conflicts emerged into the political sphere from the economic spehere during the period of 1893-1900.The development of independent labor movement contributed to this change.Chapter Two analyses the new characteristics of British industrial relations in the period from 1880 to 1900. Section One describes the rise of new trade union movement from the perspective of the main body of labor conflict. With the revival of socialism in the 1880s, socialist theory widely spread among the working class. Part of the socialists participated in the labor movement and launched a vigorous "new trade union movement". Unskilled workers were organized and injected fresh vitality into the old trade unions, which contributed to the change of the main body in the labor conflicts. Section Two describes the struggles between employers and employees. According to it, we can see the industrial relations became more and more severe. In the context of economic decline, an increasing number of disputes between employers and employees emerged. "The new Trade union" encouraged workers to strike, which lead to fierce confrontation between employers and employees. Section Three describes the political characteristics of the industrial relaitons during this period. In the case of the intensification of the industrial conflict, to protect the legal rights, the requirements of the working class extended to the political sphere from economic field. As a result, the political nature of industrial relations became increasingly significant during this period.On the basis of the previous two chapters, Chapter Three discusses how the British Government intervened in industrial relations from 1880 to 1900. The intensification of the industrial conflict in the end of 19th century led to serious social risks, which made politicians reconsider the role of the Government in the mediation of industrial disputes. Labour legislation and Government mediation became the primary means of Government intervention. Section One is mainly about the rise of New Liberalism. New Liberalism made a profound impact on the Government guiding ideology which used for intervening industrial relations. Section Two describes the labour legislation. British Government actively promoted labour legislation from 1880 to 1900. There were Factory Law of 1891,1895,1901 in the occupational safety and health systems, which further protected the rights of workers. In additon to, The Employers' Liability Act of 1880 and The workmen's Compensation Act of 1897 marked a complete work-related injuries security system. Section Three expounds the institutionalization of Government mediation. Facing the increasingly fierce labor conflicts in the late of 19th century, British Government took concrete actions to resolve conflicts according to The Conciliation Act of 1896. From now on, the Government mediation determined as a system.Conclusion discusses and evaluates the Government's role in the industrial relations. In the face of increasingly fierce labor conflicts, British Government's attitude towards industrial relations was in line wih the state intervention since 1850s. But the efforts and scope were expanded during the period from 1880 to 1900. In summary, British Government played a positive role as regulator, supervisor, damage controller and arbiter in the industrial relations.