They broke
many of their frames, which belonged to their employers, to limit
their number.
In 1749, combinations to advance wages, decrease hours of work, or
regulate prices were declared void for journeymen dyers,
journeyman hot pressers, all wool workers, brickmakers and
tilemakers, journeymen servants, workmen, laborers, felt and hat
makers, and silk, linen, cotton, iron, leather, and fur workers in
and around London. The penalty was prison or hard labor at a House
of Correction for three months without bail. In 1756, Justices of
the Peace were to determine the rates of wages of wool workers
according to numbers of yards. But this was repealed the next year
to prevent combinations of workers. Wage agreements between
clothiers and weavers were declared binding. Clothiers not paying
wages within two days of delivery of work shall forfeit 40s.
In 1763 the silk weavers in east London drew up a scale of wages,
and upon its being rejected, 2000 of them broke their tools,
destroyed the materials, and left their workshops. A battalion of
guards had to take possession of the area. In 1765, the silk
weavers marched on Westminster to stop the import of French silks.
In 1768, the weavers rebelled against a 4d. per yard reduction in
their wages, filling the streets in riotous crowds and pillaging
houses. After the garrison of the Tower came, the workmen resisted
with cudgels and cutlasses, resulting in deaths and woundings.
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