Today trade unions are an integral part of the political landscape, at least in countries like Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada. But this hasn’t always been the case… 

In the 19th century, during the Industrial Revolution, there was a real fear that the social and political upheaval of the French Revolution might be replicated in England and as a result trade unions or ‘friendly societies’ were viewed with suspicion. 

In the 1830’s this came to a head in the small town of Tolpuddle in Dorset, where six poor farm labourers met under a tree to form the ‘Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers’, to protest wage cuts. They were arrested, tried and sentenced to transportation to Australia on the basis of a legal technicality. 

The cause of George Loveless and the Tolpuddle Martyrs became a symbol of the struggle for workers’ rights and contributed to the growth of trade unions and the labour movement in Britain and around the world. 

Tom De Wit is the Curator of the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum and he joins Marc Fennell (Stuff The British Stole, Mastermind) from Tolpuddle to share this incredible story.

Binge all the episodes of No One Saw It Coming now on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

Get in touch:

Got a story for us? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]