INDUSTRIAL UNION

trade union that combines all workers, both skilled and unskilled, employed in one industry. Excluded from the early unions of skilled craftsmen, the semiskilled and unskilled workers in the mass production industries began organizing around the end of the 19th century in Great Britain; similar developments occurred a little later in other countries. In their struggle for recognition the new unions tended to employ more aggressive tactics than the craft unions. Today few unions are organized uniquely on a craft or industrial basis; large industrial unions may set up special divisions for particular occupational groups within their jurisdictions, or craft unions may become industrial as they organize additional nonskilled workers in new industries. See craft union.