The Combinations of Workmen Act 1825 (6 Geo. 4. c. 129) was an act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The act prohibited combinations of workers for purposes other than negotiating wages and working hours, while continuing to criminalize many forms of industrial action such as picketing, intimidation, and coercion. It did not completely ban trade unions or all collective bargaining.
Background The act followed on from the Combination Act 1799 (39 Geo. 3. c. 81) and the Combination of Workmen Act 1824 (5 Geo. 4. c. 95). The 1824 act repealed the acts of 1799 and 1800, but this led to a wave of strikes. Accordingly, the Combinations of Workmen Act 1825 was passed to reimpose criminal sanctions for picketing and other methods of persuading workers not to work.
Provisions This law made illegal any combinations not for the purposes of pressing for wage increases or for a change in working hours. Nonetheless, it represented a step forward for the labour movement, inasmuch as it recognised the right of trade unions to engage in collective bargaining, then illegal across much of the Continent.
Repealed enactments Section 1 of the act repealed the Combination of Workmen Act 1824 (5 Geo. 4. c. 95).
Section 2 of the act repealed 35 enactments, listed in that section, as well as all acts relative to combinations of workmen or of masters as to wages, time of working, quantity of work, etc. CitationShort titleDescriptionExtent of repeal33 Edw. St. 1Statutum de ConspiratoribusA certain Act passed in the Thirty third Year of King Edward the First, intituled Who be Conspirators and who be Champertors.As relates to Combinations or Conspiracies of Workmen or other Persons to obtain an Advance or to fix the Rate of Wages, or to lessen or alter the Hours or Duration of the Time of work- ing, or to decrease the Quantity of Work, or to regulate or controul the Mode of carrying on any Manufacture, Trade or Business, or the Management thereof, and as relates to Combinations or Conspiracies of Masters, Manufacturers or other Persons, to lower or fix the Rate of Wages, or to increase or alter the Hours or Duration of the Time of working, or to increase the Quantity of Work, or to regulate or controul the Mode of carrying on any Manufacture, Trade or Business, or the Management thereof, or to oblige Workmen to enter into Work.3 Hen. 6. c. 1Labourers Act 1425A certain other Act passed in the Third Year of King Henry the Sixth intituled Masons shall not confederate themselves in Chapiters and Assemblies.The whole act.33 Hen. 8. c. 9 (I)Servants' Wages Act 1542A certain other Act passed in the Parliament of Ireland, in the Thirty third Year of King Henry the Eighth, intituled An Act for Servants' Wages.The whole act.2 & 3 Edw. 6. c. 15Victuallers, etc. Act 1548A certain other Act passed in the Second and Third Years of King Edward the Sixth, intituled The Bill of Conspiracies of Victuallers and Craftsmen.The whole act.5 Parl. Jac. 1. (S.)Craftsmen's Work Act 1426A certain other Act passed in the Parliament of Scotland, in the Fifth Parliament of King James the First of Scotland, intituled of the Fees of Craftsmen and the Price of their Worke.The whole act.5 Parl. Jac. 1. (S.)Wages Act 1426A certain other Act passed in the Parliament of Scotland, in the Fifth Parliament of King James the First of Scotland, intituled Of the Fees of Workmen.The whole act.5 Parl. Jac. 1. (S.)N/AA certain other Act passed in the Parliament of Scotland, in the Fifth Parliament of King James the First of Scotland, intituled Of Writches and Masones.The whole act.7 Parl. Jac. 1. (S.)N/AA certain other Act passed in the Parliament of Scotland, in the Seventh Parliament of King James the First of Scotland, intituled The Price of Silk Workmanshippe.The whole act.5 Parl. Mar. (S.)Craftsmen Act 1551A certain other Act, passed in the Parliament of Scotland, in the Fifth Parliament of Queen Mary of Scotland, intituled The Price of Craftesmenne's Wark, of Meate and Drinke in Tavernes.The whole act.7 Parl. Jac. 6. (S.)Regulation of Prices Act 1581A certain other Act passed in the Parliament of Scotland, in the Seventh Parliament of King James the Sixth of Scotland, intituled Anent the setting of Ordour and Price in all Stuiffe.The whole act.13 & 14 Cha. 2. c. 15Silk Throwing Act 1662A certain other Act passed in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Years of King Charles the Second, intituled An Act for regulating the Trade of Silk Throwing.As provides and enacts, that the Corporation of Silk Throwers should not, by virtue of that Act, nor any Thing therein contained, make any Orders, Ordinances or Bye Laws, to set any Rates or Prices whatsoever upon the throwing of Silk, to bind or enforce their Members to work at. I.e., section 10.7 Geo. 1. St. 1. c. 13Journeymen Tailors, London Act 1720A certain other Act passed in the Seventh Year of King George the First, intituled An Act for regulating the Journeymen Tailors within the Weekly Bills of Mortality.Excepting so much thereof as relates to the Recovery of Wages, or to Journeymen Tailors or Servants departing from their Service, or refusing to enter into Work or Employment, as therein mentioned. I.e., sections 4 and 6.12 Geo. 1. c. 34Woollen Manufactures Act 1725An Act passed in the Twelfth Year of King George the First, intituled An Act to prevent unlawful Combinations of Workmen employed in the Woollen Manufactures, and for better Payment of their Wages.As provides that Contracts, Covenants or Agreements, Bye Laws, Ordinances, Rules and Orders, made or entered into by or between Persons brought up in, or professing, using or exercising the Art and Mystery of a Woolcomber or Weaver, or Journeyman Woolcomber or Journeyman Weaver, as therein mentioned, shall be illegal, null and void, and as punishes Woolcombers, Weavers, Journeyman Woolcombers and Weavers, and other Persons concerned in the Woollen Manufactures, for keeping up, continuing, acting in, making, entering into, signing, sealing or being knowingly concerned in, presuming or attempting to put in Execution such Agreements, Bye Laws, Ordinances, Rules or Orders, as therein mentioned, and as provides that the Provisions of the said Act of the Twelfth of George the First, just recited, shall extend to the Persons therein mentioned. I.e., sections 1 and 8.3 Geo. 2. c. 14 (I)N/AA certain other Act passed in the Parliament of Ireland, in the Third Year of King George the Second, intituled An Act to prevent unlawful Combinations of Workmen, Artificers and Labourers, employed in the several Trades and Manufactures of this Kingdom, and for the better Payment of their Wages; as also to prevent Abuses in making of Bricks, and to ascertain their Dimensions.As declares illegal, null and void the Contracts, Covenants, Agreements, Bye Laws, Ordinances, Rules and Orders therein mentioned, and makes it an Offence to keep up, continue, act in, make, enter into, sign, seal or to be knowingly concerned therein, and to presume or attempt to put the same into Execution, as therein mentioned.17 Geo. 2. c. 8 (I)Truck Act 1743A certain other Act passed in the Parliament of Ireland, in the Seventeenth Year of King George the Second, intituled An Act for continuing several Statutes now near expiring, and for amending other Statutes, and for other Purposes therein mentioned.As declares the Assemblies therein mentioned to be unlawful Assemblies, the Houses where they meet common Nuisances, and punishes the Master and Mistress thereof, as likewise those who enter into the Contracts, Covenants or Articles therein mentioned, or collect or pay Money for the Support of Persons as therein mentioned.22 Geo. 2. c. 27Frauds by Workmen Act 1748A certain other Act passed in the Twenty second Year of King George the Second, intituled An Act for the more effectual preventing of Frauds and Abuses committed by Persons employed in the Manufacture of Hats, and in the Woollen, Linen, Fustian, Cotton, Iron, Leather, Fur, Hemp, Flax, Mohair and Silk Manufactures, and for preventing unlawful Combinations of Journeymen Dyers and Journeymen Hotpressers, and of all Persons employed in the said several Manufactures, and for the better Payment of their Wages.As extends those Provisions of the said Act of the Twelfth of George the First herein mentioned to the Persons therein mentioned. I.e., section 12.29 Geo. 2. c. 33Woollen Manufacture Act 1756A certain other Act passed in the Twenty ninth Year of King George the Second, intituled An Act to render more effectual an Act passed in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George, to prevent unlawful Combinations of Workmen employed in the Woollen Manufactures, and for better Payment of their Wages; and also an Act passed in the Thirteenth Year of the Reign of His said late Majesty, for the better Regulation of the Woollen Manufacture, and for preventing Disputes among the Persons concerned therein, and for limiting a Time for Prosecution for the Forfeiture appointed by the aforesaid Act, in case of the Payment of the Workmen's Wages in any other Manner than in Money.As relates to the making of Rates for the Payment of Wages, continuing and altering and notifying them as therein mentioned.