Guilds were banned in Dorlaf in 1087, as part of the post-Garreday Uprisings reforms. The laudable intention was to end the control of trades and professions by a wealthy oligarchy and open them up to all. However, fairly typically any total openness was restricted by rapid and more informal measures. Soon after guilds were banned, a plethora of societies, associations etc. sprung up, each one attached to a specific trade or cluster of trades. Sometimes workers also join the associations, creating a merge with the unions, but they are chiefly for owners etc. Membership of the professional associations is entirely voluntary and they have no formal control over their industry; officially they are just a mixture of social club (all have meeting halls, of varying degrees of opulence) and occasionally a lobbying body. Nonetheless, they are invaluable place to build contacts, strike up deals etc. and frequently give aid to their members as well as boycotting none-members. By denying people membership the association can basically decide who will succeed in business and who will fail, and they are a prime example of banned old practices continuing to exist in civil society. There are regular calls for the associations to be banned, and every now and again one does overstep the mark and gets prosecuted, but they are probably here to stay. The range of the associations tends to vary. Some operate right across Christoté, some across Dorlaf and a few are confined to the Cities itself. In general, the larger and less skill-intensive trades are the most likely to be regionalised. The headquarters of the national bodies tend to be in the Cities, except where a trade is particularly clustered in another region (metalsmiths and lace making, for example).
The trade associations are
especially important in the licensed professions. The councils largely draw their knowledge on who should and
shouldn't be allowed to trade by consulting those in the industry and if the
association can present a single voice of opinion it can be hugely influential
in controlling entrance. For example
the League of Gentlemen basically controls the herbalist licensing committees
in all three Cities, though the Academy of Magic has been trying to make some
inroads of late. The
associations are also a force in unlicensed professions which nonetheless
require a great deal of skill. The
cunning ones have come to control all training, entrance exams and
qualifications, simply because these are impossible to achieve without the
co-operation of their existing members.
Trade Associations:
The Coopers Society -
Originally a small fellowship of barrel makers which has swelled to incorporate
all forms of carpentry. Hall on Rushes
Street, Jalkin.
The Grasshoppers Society - Represent the large, unwieldy mass of Cities' hire-gig drivers. The name comes from the insect-like appearance of a driver sat over the carriage with whip and reigns in hand; 'preying mantis' is a more common nick-name but has unfortunate connotations. Association hall in Chiesa Court, Forgar. Not a reputable association by any standards, banned for affray in 1290 (later to reform) and almost again in 1329.
Harkanas' Servants - The somewhat presumptuous name for the body
which represents the armourists.
Formerly based in Chorley, but moved to the Cities to be close to
Huwdone House. The Servants are largely
a lobbying body, forever vainly trying to relax arms legislation and the
licence system. Based in Zidane Avenue,
Forgar.
The League of Gentlemen - One of the oldest surviving associations, established in 1203 to represent the Cities' herbalists. Much vilified for concentrating exclusively on the larger emporia to the determent of smaller practitioners (something which all trade assocs. do, but herbalism is close to most people's hearts). Also one of the most crooked, having for years systematically bribed Councillors into ensuring the right herbalists get/retain their licenses, in return for a sizeable fee from the herbalists themselves.
The Master Farriers. The
body which represents the metalsmiths; that is, the large scale concerns,
rather than village blacksmiths. The
Farriers are inevitably based in Chorley, though have a chapter in the Cities
who meet in offices in the Tarragon Works in Forgar.
The Printers Association - A
splinter group of the Scribesmen who broke off after a protracted row in
1325. Dominated by the big three houses
(Ocheverry, Elven Works, Byrisso's).
The Scribesmen - Represents
those connected with the book trade; sellers and binders, though no longer
printers (see below). Somewhat small
and ineffectual. Hall on Gorric Way,
Jalkin.
The Taylor's Fellowship -
Established in 1323, primarily to counter the power of Sardacs Textile Works
(who feels they're above mere trade associations). Hasn't worked so far.
The Victualling Society -
Represents those connected with making or selling food and drink; includes
bakers, taverns, restaurants, market gardeners etc. Sphere of influence spreads across much of central Dorlaf, though
concentrated on the Cities. The largest
of the trade associations, though it's so ridden with feuds and factions that
it can scarcely be called a single body.
After three bloody coups in a single years, is now headed by a broad,
ineffectual council. Hall on Rushes
Street, Jalkin.