depth 5: trade unions 1917-27 Flashcards
what is a trade union
an organisation which represents a group of workers
uses collective bargaining as a tool to get better conditions for workers, rather than individuals requesting better pay ect
when was the TUC formed & what was it
Trade Union Congress
formed 1868 in Manchester
an organisation meant to bring different trade unions together
what was the “syndicalism”
new cause of conflicts between unions and managers during WW1
Syndicalism is a socialist concept of replacing ownership and management of factories with syndicates, or committees, of workers
when was WW1
July 1914 - November 1918
how did WW1 improve the conditions the labouring working class
- 5 million men enlisted into army (workforce was 15 million before war) left skilled workers in good bargaining position
- bonuses in some key trades (eg dock workers) were fixed sums, not percentages, which benefitted the least well paid
- inclusion of Labour Party in Asquith’s 1915 election strengthened trade union voice in government
example of workers using upper hand during WW1 to get better conditions
1918
200,000 miners in South Wales on strike
This broke war time rules but Lloyd George was forced to negotiate and agree to many demands as he needed them back at work
effects of improved wartime conditions
Little need for extended conflict, generally showed a spirit of patriotism and co-operated with government.
Trade union membership rose to just over 5 million
when was the triple alliance formed
1914 - 1915
union between the National Transport Workers’ Union, the National Union of Railwaymen, and the Miners’ Federation
how effective was the triple alliance
not a strong alliance –> based on suspicion of the aims of employers and each other rather than genuine support
Did present a strong national front since they agreed to go on sympathy strikes to support each other
reasons for revival in trade unionism after WW1
- 1919 Restoration of Pre-War Practices Act obliged employers to end the beneficial war employment rules
- successful wartime actions by unions in Clydeside gave confidence that trade unions could be a political force
- British trade failed to return to pre-war levels (lost dominance in foreign markets) which put pressure on whole economy
- wages were progressively cut as employers seek to be competitive / profitable
- Coalition of David Lloyd George dominated by anti-unionist Conservatives
- government returned mines to private owners 1921
trade union membership after WW1
membership fell from 5 million to 4.3 million
Still higher than pre-war levels
example of Conservative party (coalition government) squashing trade union action after WW1
1918-19
Police went on strike
Government responded firmly, dismissing those involved from their jobs
when were mines returned to private ownership after the war
31st March 1921
owners quickly cut wages to increase profits
reason for 1915 Glasgow Rent Strike
70,000 residents moved to Glasgow during WW1
this meant landlords could raise rent prices due to demand
Many couldn’t afford higher rents, especially women who’s husbands were at war
Glasgow Rent Strike
1915
First protests lead mainly by women, namely Mary Barbour. They blocked bailiffs entering properties & picketed houses of landlords who’d evicted tenants.
November: 25000 were involved in rent strikes. Workers in munitions factories and dockyards across Glasgow threatened sympathy strikes (police halted legal action against protestors to prevent this)
WW1 shell shortage
May 1915 onwards
this meant any threats of strikes in munitions factories were a big concern (Glasgow Rent Strikes)
Government response to May 1915 shell crisis that angered Trade Unions
June 1915 Munitions of War Act
Introduced dilution and prevented workers changing factories for better paid jobs without permission
(also made government wary of being harsh on Glasgow Rent Strikes as they’d already angered unions with this)
which groups worked together in 1915 Glasgow Rent Strikes
Glasgow Women’s Housing Association, the Clyde Workers’ Committee, and the Independent Labour Party
(showed the potential of co-operative union pressure)
employers reaction the 1915 Glasgow Rent Strikes
they supported the strikes for fear of conflict
outcome of Glasgow Rent strikes
November 1915
Lloyd George introduced the Rent Restriction Act, guaranteed pre-war levels would be fixed until end of war
when was the 40-hour strike
January 1919
causes of the 1919 40-hour strike
- Government policy of the time required a 54 hour working week (6am - 5:30pm, and until noon on Saturdays)
- Bolshevik Revolution (November 1917) and Spartacist uprising in Germany (January 1919) encouraged workers that there was hope for change
January 1919 40-hour strike
27th: Clyde Workers’ Committee begin strike (70,000 workers in Glasgow_
29th: present petition for 40 hour working week to Lord Provost and request it is given to government
31st: 60,000 workers & supporters gather in George Square under a large red flag to hear response (rejection).
what happened when news of the rejection of the 40-hour petition reached the crows (40 hour strike)
31st January 1919
Small group enter city chambers to discuss, other leaders give speeches to crowd.
Fighting broke out between protestors and police –> 19 policemen and 34 strikers injured
Government deploy 6 tanks and many troops to restore order, machine guns stationed on high buildings (fear of revolution)
outcome of 1919 40 hour week
although event failed, national engineering unions managed to later succeed in getting a 47 hour week
Strong government reaction showed how much of a threat union actions could be
Strengthened links between trade unions and ILP, number of militant leaders from 1919 became labour MPs in 1922
nickname for Clydeside, Scotland
‘Red Clydeside’ due to its strong association with socialist policies as a labour stronghold.
Called ‘pink Clydeside’ by communist critics for not being radical enough
causes of black Friday, 1921
- despite 1919 Sankey Commission recommended government retain control of coal mines, mines returned to private owners in March 1921
- Owners immediately reduce pay and lock out any miners who would not accept new rates
example of how many miners opposed pay cuts after 1921
in South Wales up to 49% of workers locked out for refusing lower rates
government action in 1921 in response to fear of action by triple alliance
used 1920 Emergency Powers Act to recall troops from Ireland and abroad, poisoning them to quell any strikes.
Not needed as transport and rail workers did not join in sympathy strikes
who ran the transport workers’ union
Ernest Bevin
who ran the rail workers’ union
James Thomas
when / what was Black Friday
15 April 1921
when the leaders of transport and rail unions announced a decision not to call for strike action in support of the miners.
effects of Black Friday 1921
Weakened the position of the unions by suggesting the
Put trade unions on the defensive, unlike aggressive stance in Clydeside in 1915 & 1919
Employers in all areas forced down wages and unions were unable to prevent this
when was the Council of Action formed
1920
why was the council of action formed
in 1920, war between Britain and Russia (over Russo-Polish war) seemed possible.
Socialists disagreed with this since Russia was communist.
They prepared to strike in order to prevent this, 6000 protestors attended a strike in London
what was the council of action
Committee for organising political action created by trade unions and Labour Party
Supported by 500 local councils of actions
why was the council of action important
- raised tensions between middle and working classes (supporting communism)
- repaired damage of Black Friday by building loose network of links between trade unions
was the council of action a real threat
No.
Government investigation showed they were not sufficiently well organised to pose a real revolutionary threat
When Russo-Polish war ended in 1921 they lacked a purpose
what was the AEU
Amalgamated Engineering Union
Formed 1921
Alliance of 9 smaller engineering unions
Strength: all highly skilled craftsmen, could afford to pay 1 shilling per week. Meant AEU financially stable and had resources to support strikes (this meant employers avoided conflict with them)
what was the TGWU
Transport and General Workers’ Union
Formed 1922
Alliance of 14 unions from an unusually wide trade of trades (dock workers, road transport, clerical administrators act)
why did people dislike the amalgamated unions
saw them as removing independence of individual unions
Smaller unions still met in councils of action to represent workers in their loyalty in industrial disputes
Manny Shinwell (who & what)
Working class trade unionist from Glasgow
Marxist sympathiser
A leader of trade unions in Glasgow, heavily involved in sailors’ unions.
Arrested and imprisoned for 5 months for involvement as leader of 1919 40 hour strike
Elected as labour MP in 1922 and 1928 (support from workers)
Manny Shinwell (significance)
figurehead for trade union movement
gave trade unions parliamentary voice as Labour MP
moderate voice in trade union movement
James Maxton (who & what)
Socialist school teacher from Glasgow -> left wing of Labour Party
Central to formation of Scottish Socialist Teachers’ Society
Worked closely with other Glaswegian socialist (eg Manny Shinwell)
Spent 1 year in jail for organising strikes against conscription into armed force
Elected Labour MP in 1922 (trouble making, vocally critical of Conservative MPs)
Leader of ILP from 1926
James Maxton (significance)
- radical & vocal leader of trade unions and labour
- Provided voice for radical left against Labour prime minster Ramsey MacDonald’s moderate policies
- Solgan ‘Socialism in our time’ popular amongst labour supporters
- leader of ILP during 1926 general strike
Ernest Bevin (who & what)
Dock worker from Bristol
Little formal education but good at organising
Leading member of National Transport Workers’ Federation
Appointed general secretary of TGWU after leading negations to form in 1921-22
Did not serve as MP in this period by was an organiser for Labour Party
Leading member of TUC during 1926 General Strike
Ernest Bevin (significance)
- organisation skills and moderate voice important to Labour Party and trade unions
- apposed formation of triple alliance since it was too radical
- prevented transport workers joining Black Friday Strike
- his negotiation to withdraw TGWU from 1926 general strike was a cause for the strike ending
James H Thomas (who & what)
- working class member of rail and mining industries
- active member of Labour Party, became MP in 1910 with campaign based upon increasing taxes on the rich
- General secretary of National Union of Railwaymen from 1917
- Labour MP in 1920s, Secretary of state for colonies in MacDonalds Labour Government
- Acted as mediator in negations in 1926 General Strike between Baldwin strikers and mine owners
James H Thomas (significance)
- trade union leader and Labour MP
- moderate views, like Bevin, led him to oppose Black Friday. Lack of support lead to strikes failing, but joking manner when talking to media led to him being blamed more than Bevin
- willingness to conduct secret negations in 1926 (ie meeting mine owners without discussing first with miners’ federation) undermined TUC and contributed to their failure
when was the general strike
3 May 1926 – 12 May 1926
9 day general strike
reasons for General Strike
- Economic depression & return to gold standard in 1925 (reduced value of pound, decreasing exports such as coal)
- fear of communism. 1924 fake letter ‘Zinoviev letter’ linked Labour Party to Russian Communist government (lead to downfall of MacDonald’s Labour government)
- increased confidence in TUC after ‘the Yorkshire factory times’ declared the 1925 wage retreat had been stopped by their actions
trade union membership 1925
5.5 million
meant TUC was well supported (General Strike 1926)
TUC forms central council
1921
TUC formed General Council as an executive committee, staffed by paid members .
By 1925 they were advocating a strong industrial alliance to lead all TUC unions in sympathy strikes if one union strikes
‘Red Friday’
1925
Coal miner owners declared plan to: abolish national minimum wage, cut wages 10-25%, maintain profit levels no matter how far wages must be cut
TUC committed to a sympathy strike
To avoid this, Stanley Baldwin’s conservative government funded the mine owners with a 9 month subsidiary whilst a Royal Commission (the Samuel Commission) investigated it.
TUC dubbed this temporary measure a victory and named it ‘Red Friday’
When did the coal subsidiary
31st July 1925 - 30th April 1926
evidence of TUC being unprepared for when the coal subsidiary ran out in April 1926
- had no plans on how to support miners should there be a strike
- Jame Thomas (chaired TUC committee dealing with issue) believed government would seek peaceful solution –> instead they had used the time to prepare financially and prepare propaganda should the miners go on strike
- Home Secretary “Is England to be governed by Parliament and the Cabinet, or by a handful of trade union leaders?”
results of the Samuel Commission (wages for coal miners)
1926
Recommended a reduction in wages
1st May –> employers cut wages
negotiations between TUC and Baldwin’s government regarding wages for coal miners
1st - 3rd May 1926
James Thomas as mediator
Baldwin’s government stop negotiating when daily mail refuse to publish a pro-government editorial (TUC apologise for daily mail but damage is done)
General strike began when negotiations broke down
confusion about who should go on 1926 general strike
TUC had limited control
General Council decided only ‘group 1’ unions should strike (printers/railwaymen/ect) and ‘group 2’ should join if needs be.
This meant only about 3 million were on strike at first, but group 2 joined without being asked
fighting in general strike
6th May: fighting between police and strikers in London, Glasgow, and Edinburgh
7th May: fighting extends to other cities. Government recall army to London
How did the general strike end
7th May: Sir Herbert Samuel of the Commission offered to help the TUC end the strike. TUC negotiating committee agreed on a set of proposals without consulting the miners’ federation. Samuel was clear that the miners must accept lower wages for these proposals to pass, TUC agreed but Miners’ Federation refused
11th May: TUC and General Committee agreed to accept proposals
12th May: government informed strike was over, TUC representatives attempted to gain a guarantee that strikers would not be victimised but Baldwin refused
what set of proposals did the TUC agree with Sir Herbert Samuel on (without consulting the miners’ federation)
- A National Wages Board to be established
- A minimum wage for miners
- Workers forced out of mining work to be offered alternative employment
- Wages subsidies to continue during negotiations
(in order for these to go through the miners must accept lower wage)
Reason for failure of general strike:
role of government
- Baldwin’s government refused to negotiate, comprise, or prevent victimisation of strikers from employers
- had used 9 month subsidiary to prepare by setting up the Organisation for the Maintenance of Supplies (lead by Winston Churchill)
- MacDonald’s Labour government did not support General Strike (some individual MPs did sympathise)
- weakened strike by calling on middle classes to fill jobs of those on strike; eg 226,000 special police recruited
Reason for failure of general strike:
media
- involvement of printers union in general strike meant media could not be used by TUC
- Conservative party used their journal ‘the British gazette’ to publish anti-strike propaganda
- 7th May 1926: government purchased all supplies of paper to prevent pro-TUC papers still in operation from printing
- conservative party attempted to dominate BBC, but media company defended its position as an independent broadcaster. Neither TUC or government got much air time.
Reason for failure of general strike:
the TUC
- failed to stand for views of the miners they were negotiating for
- attempted a 2 wave strike to avoid violence but lacked control to do so
- as a result of chaos, local unions formed up to 500 councils of action across the country (no solid national front)
Reason for failure of general strike:
public opinion
- middle class public support turned against strikers by government propaganda painting strikers as unreasonable
- fear of communism after 1917 Russian Revolution (large financial donation sent from Russian Communist Party to TUC, although it was returned, was embarrassing)
- violence destroyed legitimacy of strikes eg 10th May 1926 strikers derailed the well-loved British train the flying scotsman
outcomes of the 1926 general strike
- 1927 Trade Disputes Act banned sympathetic strikes
- TUC completely weakened: membership fell from 5.5 million to 3.8 million
- miners felt betrayed by TUC, relationship damaged
- June 1926 government suspended the Seven Hours Act. Mine owners cut wages & re-introduced 8 hour days
- Miners continued striking despite general strike ended, by November 1926 most had been forced to return to work by financial hardships and accepted lower wages
Seven Hours Act
started 1921
Gave miners a 7 hour working day
Suspended in June 1926 in retaliation to general strike
