c) TRADE UNIONS - revival of TUs 1919-1921 (post-war Trade Unionism) Flashcards
NATIONALISATION
Why was this introduced?
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.
NATIONALISATION
What did this entail?
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.
NATIONALISATION
Impact on the working people
Their relationship with their employer changed because now the government was the chief negotiator with the employees.
NATIONALISATION
What did Jimmy Thomas think of it?
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.
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
What was the crisis of capitalism?
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.
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
How the war impacted British economy - boom and bust
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.
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
September 1919 calls to strike
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.
TRIPLE ALLIANCE
How the Sep 1919 calls to strike demonstrate a split in the trade union movement
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.
SANKEY COMMISSION - cause of black friday
What is it? When was it formed?
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.
SANKEY COMMISSION
What did the report recommend?
Recommended that mines remain nationalised!
SANKEY COMMISSION
Government response/behaviour following the Sankey Commission
March 1921, Lloyd George undermined the Sankey Commission findings and returned the coal industry to its private owners.
SANKEY COMMISSION
Consequence of the govt response
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.
BLACK FRIDAY
What happened in April 1921?
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.
BLACK FRIDAY
When did the miners return to work?
By the end of 1921, the miners were so hungry they were forced back to work.
BLACK FRIDAY
Why was there a collapse in the Alliance?
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.
BLACK FRIDAY
How many days of work lost to industrial dispute in 1921 and 1923?
It was 86 million in 1921 and it sank to 11 million in 1923.
BLACK FRIDAY
Govt response: Defence of the Realm Act
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.
BLACK FRIDAY
Govt response: USE of EPA during BF
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.
BLACK FRIDAY
Govt response: Industrial Unrest Committee
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.
BLACK FRIDAY
Govt response: Volunteer Service Committee
STC created the VSC which provided a structure of volunteer response to strikes.
BLACK FRIDAY
Govt response:
Stockpiling resources
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.
BLACK FRIDAY
Govt response: Was the STC successful?
The govt said in April 1921 that the STC had prevented a general strike spreading to the railways and transport.
BLACK FRIDAY
Union response:
1921 new General Council
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.
BLACK FRIDAY
Union response: Divisions persisted EVEN in the new general council of the TUC?
Whilst NUR and MFGB supported the Unions, it was only Bevin and the newly formed TGWU that saw this as a permanent alliance.
