“Skilled workers in Britain began organising themselves into trade unions in the 17th century”
“Particularly after the formation of the Independent Labour Party (ILP) in 1893, the trade union movement developed a close relationship with the political left.”
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/citizenship/struggle_democracy/trade_unionism.htm
Did not know that! Damn! Learn something new every day.
(Unfortunately, some of it is, “That stuff? Yeah. Don’t touch that!)