Blind workers against charity : the National League of the Blind of Great Britain and Ireland, 1893-1970

The National League of the Blind was the first radical self-represented group of visually impaired people in Britain, with branches in every part of the United Kingdom. Founded in 1893, it registered as a trade union in 1899 and still exists today as part of the trade union 'community'. From the very beginning, the League campaigned vehemently to make the state solely responsible for providing training, employment and assistance for the visually impaired as a right. It also fought for the abolition of all charitable aid for blind people and better wages and working conditions in workshops, as well as other issues such as travel or tax concessions. This book is the first critical study on this unique social movement organisation. It explores the League's multifaceted character, its campaign for 'direct state aid,' its relationship with the trade union movement and the Labour Party, and its impact on the British welfare state. Read more... "Cover"--"Contents" -- "List of Figures" -- "Acknowledgements" -- "List of Acronyms and Abbreviations" -- "Introduction" -- "1 New Union or Poor Peopleâ#x80;#x99;s Movement? Building the National League of the Blind" -- "Case Study A: Ben Purse" -- "2 â#x80;#x98;Justice not Charityâ#x80;#x99;: Framing the Message" -- "3 Mutually Exclusive Principles? Trade Unionism and Charity" -- "Case Study B: The Blind Advocate and the Horizon" -- "4 The Limits of Radicalism: Politics and Protest in the 1920s and 1930s" -- "5 Success at Last? The League and the Consolidation of the Welfare State" -- "Case Study C: Tom Parker" -- "6 A Changing Relationship: The League and Charity in the Post-War Era" -- "Evaluating the Leagueâ#x80;#x99;s Legacy" -- "Appendix A: Past Officers of the National League" -- "Appendix B: Songs" -- "Notes" -- "Bibliography." Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction....Pages 1-13 New Union or Poor People’s Movement? Building the National League of the Blind....Pages 14-45 ‘Justice not Charity’: Framing the Message....Pages 46-67 Mutually Exclusive Principles? Trade Unionism and Charity....Pages 68-95 The Limits of Radicalism: Politics and Protest in the 1920s and 1930s....Pages 96-122 Success at Last? The League and the Consolidation of the Welfare State....Pages 123-150 A Changing Relationship: The League and Charity in the Post-War Era....Pages 151-166 Back Matter....Pages 167-259 Founded in 1893, the National League of the Blind was the first nationwide self-represented group of visually impaired people in Britain. This book explores its campaign to make the state solely responsible for providing training, employment and assistance for the visually impaired as a right, and its fight to abolish all charitable aid for them.