Organised Capital
Employers' Associations and Industrial Relations in Northern England, 1880–1939

This 1996 book is a detailed study of employer organisations, charting their growth, activities and policies.

Arthur J. McIvor (Author)

9780521890922, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 20 June 2002

324 pages, 2 maps 21 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.48 kg

'… an extremely original piece of research which fills a major gap in our existing knowledge.' English Historical Review

This detailed 1996 study contributes to an expanding field of interest: the social history of industrial employers. Using previously untapped primary sources, Organised Capital explores the emergence of employers' organisations in northern England and analyses their policies during the heyday of collective activity. Arthur McIvor evaluates the impact of trade unionism, state intervention, war, economic recession and changing product markets on these organisations, charting their role and patterns of growth. He challenges notions of a monolithic employer group and crude economic determinism, while also rejecting 'revisionist' accounts of weak and ineffective employers. Instead, he reaches a more balanced appraisal of these institutions' role in capital-labour relations and the pursuit of employers' class interests. This book will be of interest both to historians and to students of industrial relations.

Introduction
Part I. Setting the Scene: 1. Context and historiography
2. The legacy: origins of employers' associations
Part II. Forging Employers' Associations, 1880–1920: 3. Organisation, membership and solidarity
4. Strikebreaking
5. Collective bargaining and procedural control
6. The impact of World War One
Part III. Reacting to the Economic Slump: 7. The millowners' counter-attack
8. Stabilising labour markets: building
9. Defending managerial prerogative: engineering
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900 [HBLL], British & Irish history [HBJD1]