The Miners’ Federation of Great Britain began representing the interests of British mineworkers in 1889 (changing its name to the National Union of Mineworkers in 1944).

The union banner of the Gedling Colliery branch in Nottinghamshire includes the text: ‘from darkness into light, socialism, safety at work, unity is strength, nationalisation, five-day week, family allowances.’

Firrell quotes a number of those founding principles as a reminder that it was friendly societies first, and the trade union movement later, that made work safe, introduced sick pay, reduced working hours to reasonable levels, and ultimately paved the way for the UK’s National Health Service.