The Emergence of the Labour Movement, 1894–1914

Abstract

Shortly before the Trades Union Congress accepted the new standing orders the Liberal Government was defeated and the Conservatives returned to office to remain in power for ten years. During their first year the new Government carried out a recommendation of the Royal Commission on Labour, which had reported in 1894, by passing a Conciliation Act. This Act gave the Labour Department of the Board of Trade power to encourage the formation of voluntary Joint Conciliation Boards and to use its ‘good offices’ to bring the parties in a dispute together, and to appoint conciliators and arbitrators at the request of the parties. The Act brought the State into the settlement of disputes, but without giving it any power to impose terms on either party.