Wages in 1873: Address read before the Social Science Association at Norwich

"Wages in 1873: Address read before the Social Science Association at Norwich" by Thomas Brassey, M.P., is a look into the world of workers during the 1870s. In this talk from the past, Brassey looks closely at how wages went up at the time and what it meant for society. He shares thoughts on things like how the need for workers grew as industries got bigger, and how this affected what people earned. He doesn't think that strikes and unions were the main reasons for better pay; instead, he points to the growing economy. He even talks about a miners' strike that didn't work, showing that companies that are set up well can handle strikes when things aren't in the workers' favor. Brassey touches upon the rising prices of important resources like coal, as well as the battles around working fewer hours. Ultimately, he pushes for a smarter and well-informed approach to labor issues rather than just depending on strikes, arguing that boosting productivity is the real key to better income over time.