1 fev 1834 ano - Grand National Consolidated Trade Union began

Descrição:

Originated among the trades of London and was mainly an association of tailors, silk weavers and shoe makers. Was supported by a successful cotton manufacturer, Robert Owen, who had a strong belief in socialist ideas and in organising workers for reform. It had some innovative features:
- mutual support during strikes as workers from different trades and industry supported each other
- a fund to provide sickness benefits
- some inclusion of women workers
- inclusion of some agricultural workers

Only had 16,000 members and quickly collapsed.

Unions as a whole continued to suffer from economic change.