Craft Unions

Craft Unions Definition

Craft unions are specific types of labour union organisations formed by workers who possess a particular, highly skilled trade. These unions typically represent groups whose expertise is acquired through long, formal periods of apprenticeship, establishing a collective structure for these specialised artisans. Examples of such unions historically included those representing carpenters or bricklayers, highlighting the focus on occupational skill within the union structure.

Function

These organisations served as crucial bodies for workers in skilled trades to negotiate terms of employment, wages, and working conditions, leveraging their shared expertise and status within the craft.