The collapse of the Grand National had repercussions throughout the labour movement. There followed a period of disillusionment and decline in trade unionism, in which the whole movement was reduced to probably little more than a few hundred thousand members. When the revival came, a new kind of union came into existence: the "new mode/" amalgamated unions, national organisations of skilled workers in the same craft. Power and finance were concentrated in the central executive committee and effective authority was placed more and more into the hands of permanent and full-time officials.
The rise of these unions marked an important turning point in the development of the trade branch for stealing £24, the magistrates declared that a trade union, being "in restraint of trade" was an illegal body. The implications of this decision were immediately obvious, especially since sections of the capitalist class began to call for the restoration of the Combination Acts and the outlawing of collective bargaining.
The decision happened to come at a moment when the Government of the day had decided to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Trade Unions. The Majority Report of the Commission was very largely non-committal with regard to the status of trade unions, but a Minority Report was more favourable, proposing amendments of the law whereby no trades union would be illegal merely because it was in uf Corrertion, VICTED OF FELONY, and be TRANSPORTED FOR SEVEN YEARS against by Ladietmeat may be days, ingetber with the whule of what be shall know touehing the same, will be liable to the same l'cualty.
Any Person who ball directly or indirectly maintain correspondence or intercourse with sech Suriety, wil duesard Guilty of an Unlawful Combination aml Confederacy, and on Conviction befom one Justice, on the Ch ae Witnesd, be liable to a Penalty of TWENTY POUNDS, or to be committed to the Common fisul or H THREE CALENDAR MONTHS; or if procerded against by Indictment, way be C Play Persoo who shall knowingly permit any Meeting of any nach Soriety to fee. held in any House, Bail e aller Mane, shall for the tirt offence be liable to the Pemalty of FIVE POUNDS; and for every other ul comenitied after Conviction, be deemed Guilty of such Unlawful Combination a fonfederars, and on Coari before one Juice, on the Oath uf une Witnes, be liable to a Penalty of TWENTY POUND8, or to Con ment is abe Common Gool or House of Correction, FOR THREE CALENDAR MONTHS; or if proce And Transported for SEVEN YAR