Scabs and Traitors: Taboo, Violence and Punishment in Labour Disputes in Britain, 1760-1871 (Routledge Studies in Radical History and Politics)

Book Details:

• Publisher: Routledge

• Author: Thomas Linehan

• Language: English

• Edition: 1st Edition

• ISBN: 9781138926523

• Pages: 226

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches

About the Book:

The Uncooperative Worker: Collective Action in Britain, 1760-1871 by Thomas Linehan examines the struggle of workers in Britain during a period of profound economic and social change. Focusing on the decades from 1760 to 1871, the book explores how workers, in the face of rapidly shifting industrial structures, sought to engage in collective action to resist exploitative employers.

The book specifically addresses the tension between workers who favored collective struggle and those who resisted such efforts, often referred to as "uncooperative workers." Linehan delves into the severe and sometimes violent measures employed by collectively inclined workers against those seen as betraying the cause. This conflict was not only a matter of economic struggle but also a moral and social battle, with workers striving to enforce codes of conduct and behavior that supported their collective efforts.

In exploring the fractious relationship between these two groups, Linehan offers a fresh perspective, drawing on concepts from multiple scholarly disciplines. His approach challenges traditional paradigms in trade union studies, moving beyond conventional explanations to present a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play in this period of intense industrial conflict.

This book is a valuable resource for those interested in the history of labor movements, social change, and class conflict, offering a rich analysis of the complexities of collective action in the face of rapidly changing economic landscapes. It is an essential read for students and scholars of history, sociology, and labor studies.