During the Victorian period in Great Britain (1837-1901), the status of trade unions underwent significant changes, as workers began to organize to demand better wages, working conditions, and legal protections. Prior to this period, trade unions were largely illegal, and workers who attempted to organize were subject to severe penalties, including imprisonment and deportation.

In 1824, the Combination Act was repealed, allowing workers to form unions and engage in collective bargaining. However, the legal status of trade unions remained precarious, and many workers faced continued harassment and persecution from employers and the government.

Despite these challenges, trade unions continued to grow and organize throughout the Victorian period, and by the end of the century, they had become a powerful force in British society. The growth of industry and the expansion of the working class, as well as the rise of socialist and labor movements, helped to strengthen the position of trade unions and increase their bargaining power.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) was established in 1868, providing a unified voice for workers and helping to coordinate their efforts across different industries and regions. The TUC also played a key role in securing legal protections for workers, including the right to strike, the establishment of minimum wage laws, and the introduction of workplace safety regulations.

Despite these gains, however, trade unions continued to face significant opposition from employers and the government. The notorious Taff Vale case in 1901, in which a railway company successfully sued a union for damages resulting from a strike, dealt a severe blow to the labor movement and highlighted the continued vulnerability of trade unions in the face of legal and economic pressure.

The view of trade unions in English society during the Victorian period was mixed, with some seeing them as essential to the protection of workers' rights and others viewing them as a threat to social order and economic stability.

Trade unions were viewed positively by many workers and reformers, who saw them as a means of securing better wages, working conditions, and legal protections for workers. Trade unions were also seen as a way of promoting social and economic equality, and of empowering workers to demand their rights and challenge the power of employers and the government.

However, trade unions were also viewed with suspicion and hostility by many employers and members of the upper classes, who saw them as a threat to their economic interests and to the stability of society as a whole. Employers often saw trade unions as a barrier to their ability to manage their businesses as they saw fit, and were often unwilling to negotiate with them or to recognize their legitimacy.

The government was also often hostile to trade unions, viewing them as a potential source of social unrest and political radicalism. Laws such as the Combination Acts, which made it illegal for workers to organize and strike, were in force until the 1820s, and even after the legal status of trade unions was established, they continued to face harassment and persecution from the authorities.

The view of trade unions in Victorian society was highly contested, with differing opinions depending on one's social and economic position. However, the establishment of the Trades Union Congress in 1868 helped to increase the legitimacy and visibility of trade unions in British society, and paved the way for the continued growth and expansion of the labor movement in the 20th century.

Overall, the Victorian period saw significant developments in the status and organization of trade unions in Great Britain, paving the way for the continued growth and expansion of the labor movement in the 20th century.