ABSTRACT
In 1900, most union members were skilled workers, or at the least semi-skilled workers who commanded high wages, such as coalminers and cotton spinners. In the nineteenth century, most unions attempted to maintain control over wage levels by the limitation of access to certain jobs. The core of the policy of these unions until recently continued to be the attempt to enforce the manning of certain machines, or the performance of certain tasks, by time-served workers, those who have served an apprenticeship. Unions following this policy for a large proportion of their membership included the Amalgamated Engineering Union (AEU) - the successor to the ASE, the Electrical Trade Union and the National Graphical Association (NGA), which was formed in 1964 from various smaller printing unions. In the twentieth century, other industries with a more stable pattern of demand, such as chemicals, food manufacturing and service occupations, have become more prominent and, hence, a more stable employment pattern has emerged.
