John Doherty (trade Unionist) - Doherty and Trade Unionism

Doherty and Trade Unionism

Following Doherty’s relocation to Manchester, it was not long before he was involved with the factory workers growing movement for higher wages and better conditions. In 1818 he was a leading figure in the spinners strike and was imprisoned for two years. Rather than deterring Doherty this merely enhanced his desire to obtain better conditions for himself and his fellow workers and he continued to be an active member of the Manchester Spinners Union following his release. In 1828 Doherty was elected leader of the Manchester Spinners Union and the following year he led the group in a six-month strike against a wages reduction. Starvation forced the strikers back into employment and although this was considered to be a failure following low turnout, Doherty remained determined and soon founded the General Union of Cotton Spinners.

The General Union of Cotton Spinners was an ambitious project, intending to link the English spinners unions with those of Ireland and Scotland. Doherty realised that a small number of spinners striking would change very little, but bringing an entire industry to a halt would force a rethink in wages and conditions. Perhaps though this was a little too ambitious and in 1831 the union collapsed following six months of strike action. The supposed united front never occurred with the Scottish and Irish spinners refusing to join in and leaving the protest in tatters.

Doherty was also involved with the creation of the National Association for the Protection of Labour but similarly this ambitious project, intended to provide a general union of workers of all trades, was poorly supported and collapsed in 1832.