Dread to think what working life would be like had trade unions not existed

@ChipmunkErnie such as the chartists

@Loopysoutherner Don't really know them -- British union movement, right?

@ChipmunkErnie kinda. We're active in the 1800s and advocated for
A vote for every man aged twenty-one years and above, of sound mind, and not undergoing punishment for a crime.
The secret ballot to protect the elector in the exercise of his vote.
No property qualification for Members of Parliament (MPs), to allow the constituencies to return the man of their choice.
Payment of Members, enabling tradesmen, working men, or other persons of modest means to leave or interrupt their livelihood to attend to the interests of the nation.
Equal constituencies, securing the same amount of representation for the same number of electors, instead of allowing less populous constituencies to have as much or more weight than larger ones.
Annual Parliamentary elections, thus presenting the most effectual check to bribery and intimidation, since no purse could buy a constituency under a system of universal manhood suffrage in every twelve months.

@Loopysoutherner Ah, so not really like our union movements here in the US. I've heard of the things you mention, but usually in the context of British TV historical dramas dealing with the laws going into Parliament, not so much from the side of the actual grassroots movement.

@ChipmunkErnie the top five are now part of working life

@Loopysoutherner Where did you copy and paste that from?

@SW-User what?