a) TRADE UNIONS - WWI Flashcards
Background info
The wealth of Britain and how it was achieved
Britain entered WWI as an imperial power - they controlled 1/3 of the globe’s land.
Wealth relied on heavy industry such as iron production and coal mining.
Background info
How did the conditions of WWI enable trade unionism?
820,000 people died in WWI.
The conditions of heavy industry were awful even before WWI, but conditions worsened = cost of living increased, longer hours, restricted movement, and worsened the conditions of industrial labourers.
Trade Unions had grate power to negotiate better conditions and better wages between 1915-1918.
Background info
Increase in trade union members between 1913-1919?
1913 - 4.2 million workers
1919 - 8.1 million members
Background info
How did war impact heavy industry?
British industrial production declined rapidly.
In 1915, mining produce + coal output declined by 22%.
ERNEST BEVIN 1881-1951
When was he elected to the exec committee of the NTWF?
What is the NTWF?
He was elected to the National Transport Workers’ Federation exec committee in 1916.
ERNEST BEVIN 1881-1951
Why was he important in forming NTWF policy?
He was important because he realised that for trade unions to be effective, they must collaborate together - in this case with the coal and railway unions to win workers improved pay and working conditions.
JAMES HENRY THOMAS
Was he involved in party politics?
In 1910, he became Labour MP for Derby.
He worked with David Lloyd George’s government to seek improvements to workers’ pay + conditions.
He became favourable amongs aristocrats and King George V 1910-1936.
JAMES HENRY THOMAS
When Labour Rules
Thomas’ 1920 book was a pleasant approach for MC readers, assuring them they had nothing to fear from limited nationalisation and equal opportunities for workers - the ideological orthodoxy!
JAMES HENRY THOMAS
NUR
Became general sec of the National Union of Railwaymen in 1916
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
When was it formed and who did it represent?
It was formed in 1914, and it represented the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, National Transport Workers’ Federation, and the National Union of Railwaymen.
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
Jimmy Thomas + TUC (committee and general council)
Thomas worked on the newly formed parliamentary committee of the TUC, which represented the interests of the trade unions 1917-1921.
Following this, he served on the TUC General Council which replaced parliamentary committee after 1921.
MUNITIONS OF WAR ACT 1915
Cause
Govt response to fears over insufficient shell and ammunition productions.
MUNITIONS OF WAR ACT 1915
What happens under the act|?
Private companies supplying wartime supplies were brought under the authority of the munition’s ministry.
They handed over powers to regulate wages, hours, conditions etc.
The govt would decide on disagreements between employer and employee in a way that ensured production was smooth-running.
The Act prevented skilled workers in essential industries from moving into better-paid, unskilled engineering work.
They needed a leaving certificate from their employer which was intended to ensure production would not decline - it handed over mass power to the employer.
DILUTION
What is it?
Using semi-skilled, unskilled labour for skilled work which inadvertently undermines the privileged position of skilled workers.
DILUTION
Strikes
May 1917 strikes in Clyde following huge unrest over dilution. 14,000 women worked there.
