c) TRADE UNIONS - revival of TUs 1919-1921 (post-war Trade Unionism)

Question 1

NATIONALISATION

Why was this introduced?

Answer 1

High demand for labour during WWI meant that the govt was forced to work alongside working people like never before.

This was to make production and industry more efficient.

Question 2

NATIONALISATION

What did this entail?

Answer 2

March 1917 - measure to nationalise coal production extended to the whole country under Defense of the Realm Act.

The state controlled regulation of wages etc.

Between 1917-1918, govt increased wages by one shilling and six pence.

Question 3

NATIONALISATION

Impact on the working people

Answer 3

Their relationship with their employer changed because now the government was the chief negotiator with the employees.

Question 4

NATIONALISATION

What did Jimmy Thomas think of it?

Answer 4

When Labour Rules (published in 1922) = he explores how nationalisation of coal and rail industries would enable a 44-hour work week if Labour was to secure profits from industry going to all and not just the few.

Question 5

TRIPLE ALLIANCE

What was the crisis of capitalism?

Answer 5

Govt wanted to avoid industrial unrest and return nationalised industries to private ownership but this created hostility from trade unionists.

Private competition undermined by state onwership.

Question 6

TRIPLE ALLIANCE

How the war impacted British economy - boom and bust

Answer 6

Britain struggled to re-capture trade markets it dominated in 1914.

There was a boom in that the industrial damage to France and Germany meant that our industries benefitted but the increased pay and reducaed hours that British industrial labourers won in the war meant that it was not long before British industry was uncompetitive.

Question 7

TRIPLE ALLIANCE

September 1919 calls to strike

Answer 7

When the govt refused to make a permanent settlement on the continuation of wartime bonuses for the railway workers, Thomas called a strike on Sep 1919 - the govt fear is illustrated in how they panicked and deployed troops at Paddington and other London railway stations.

Question 8

TRIPLE ALLIANCE

How the Sep 1919 calls to strike demonstrate a split in the trade union movement

Answer 8

The strike was not supported by the miners because they were waiting for a govt commission to report on the future of their industry.

The strike was also not supported by the transport workers because they had a two shilling pay rise in 1919 AND they saw their hours cut from 8-7 hours.

Question 9

SANKEY COMMISSION - cause of black friday

What is it? When was it formed?

Answer 9

This was a royal commission set up by PM Lloyd George to determine the future of coal nationalisation (whether it should remain nationalised etc)

It was formed in 1919 - led by Lab lawyer and judge John Sankey.

Lloyd George enabled this commission because he understood that for the British coal market to be competitive in foreign markets, wages would have to be reduced - he wanted to avoid industrial strikes against the govt.

Question 10

SANKEY COMMISSION

What did the report recommend?

Answer 10

Recommended that mines remain nationalised!

Question 11

SANKEY COMMISSION

Government response/behaviour following the Sankey Commission

Answer 11

March 1921, Lloyd George undermined the Sankey Commission findings and returned the coal industry to its private owners.

Question 12

SANKEY COMMISSION

Consequence of the govt response

Answer 12

This damaged the workers - within one day of resuming their ownership of the coal mines, the employers announced cuts to wages to increase competitiveness.

Pay for coal miners fell by 30%, which coincided with increases to the cost of living.

Question 13

BLACK FRIDAY

What happened in April 1921?

Answer 13

Leaders of the transport and railway unions ordered workers not to strike in sympathy with the miners.

Ernest Bevin wanted to support the coal miners but he begrudgingly supported the other Triple Alliance leaders which was seen as a betrayal to the miners.

Question 14

BLACK FRIDAY

When did the miners return to work?

Answer 14

By the end of 1921, the miners were so hungry they were forced back to work.

Question 15

BLACK FRIDAY

Why was there a collapse in the Alliance?

Answer 15

The NUR and NTWF accused the MFGB of wanting support but refusing the rail and transport factions of the Triple Alliance a part in govt negotiations.

Trust between the coal, railway, and transport unions had been lost.

Question 16

BLACK FRIDAY

How many days of work lost to industrial dispute in 1921 and 1923?

Answer 16

It was 86 million in 1921 and it sank to 11 million in 1923.

Question 17

BLACK FRIDAY

Govt response: Defence of the Realm Act

Answer 17

War-time legislation which regulated industrial relations.

This was then replaced with the Emergency Powers Act which allowed the govt to declare a national state of emergency in times of severe industrial unrest.

This made provisions for maintaining supplies, giving full power to the cabinet and civil service, and allowing for the quick passing of emergency legislation to regulate militancy.

Question 18

BLACK FRIDAY

Govt response: USE of EPA during BF

Answer 18

EPA invoked prior to BF and troops were deployed to areas likely to be sites of strikes - the act itself was not required but the state of emergency was called despite this.

Question 19

BLACK FRIDAY

Govt response: Industrial Unrest Committee

Answer 19

Created in Feb 1919 - anti-strike apparatus formation.

This committee was used to counter strike activity.

Govt even changed the name from IUC to the Supply and Transport Committee to prevent it from sounding too hostile.

Between 1919-1921, the STC met 46 times, reviewing and resolving most industrial crises.

Question 20

BLACK FRIDAY

Govt response: Volunteer Service Committee

Answer 20

STC created the VSC which provided a structure of volunteer response to strikes.

Question 21

BLACK FRIDAY

Govt response:
Stockpiling resources

Answer 21

The govt worked with businesses to stockpile resources such as coal and oil.

In 1919, the govt worked with the British Petroleum Company to maintain fuel reserves and agreed to cut import duties on oil.

Question 22

BLACK FRIDAY

Govt response: Was the STC successful?

Answer 22

The govt said in April 1921 that the STC had prevented a general strike spreading to the railways and transport.

Question 23

BLACK FRIDAY

Union response:
1921 new General Council

Answer 23

Bevin wanted to ensure BF would never happen again and so he wanted to replace the loose alliance with a centralised structure for industrial militancy coordination.

1921 - new General Council of the TUC was created to counter the govt and employers’ attack on wages and hours.

Question 24

BLACK FRIDAY

Union response: Divisions persisted EVEN in the new general council of the TUC?

Answer 24

Whilst NUR and MFGB supported the Unions, it was only Bevin and the newly formed TGWU that saw this as a permanent alliance.

Question 25

BLACK FRIDAY

Union response:
What replaced NTWF?

Answer 25

1922 onwards saw the TGWU replace the NTWF as the leading transport union.

TGWU = Transport and General Workers’ Union.

Question 26

BLACK FRIDAY

Union response: What was the ASE?

Answer 26

Amalgamated Society of Engineers

This was a union that represented skilled workers who were able to pay one shilling a week to their union which created a valuable fund for providing workers with money when strikes were called.

Question 27

COUNCIL OF ACTION

What was this?

Answer 27

This was created as a response to Britain entering war with Soviet Russia in Aug 1920 - trade unions and Labour Party formed the Council of Action along with 350 local Councils of Action.

These were established to organise and direct strikers throughout general strikes.

Question 28

COUNCIL OF ACTION

How many of these formed across the country?

Answer 28

500 + of these were formed.

Question 29

COUNCIL OF ACTION

Purpose?

Answer 29

To coordinate opposition to any attempt made by the British govt to aid Poland’s war effort.

They would strike to prevent the manufacture and export of munitions and military supplies to Poland.

Question 30

COUNCIL OF ACTION

Govt fears

Answer 30

The Home Office was fearful that the left-wing movement may be a revolutionary threat to the state and fears were exacerbated by the actions of radical CoA such as Birmingham Council which recommended the nation’s councils address questions of unemployment and oppose business profits - they advocated anti-capitalism.

Question 31

COUNCIL OF ACTION

Success?

Answer 31

They were successful in raising extensive public opposition to intervention in the Polish conflict.

Oct 1920 - 6000 protestors gathered in London to oppose war.

Question 32

COUNCIL OF ACTION

Evaluation

Answer 32

Very few Labour and Trade Union members thought these councils were revolutionary themselves so the perceived threat was not similar to the reality of the situation.