General strike Flashcards
what happened to coal mines after WW1
had been nationalized
government quickly returned mines to private owners
had to reduce costs as fall in coal demand
some closed mines
some used machinery but this took jobs
foreign competition made it cheaper to import coal than produce it as they had large technology
blank friday
more hours and pay reduced
miners strike
tried to get other industries to strike too but failed as no concern for jobs
What did people want
wanted mines to be re nationalized
invested into
to keep jobs stable
Red Friday
price of coal fell again
mine owners declared further changes to hours and pay
PM subsidized the coal industry
General strike
Subsidy money ran out
all workers strike
country was at a standstill
lasted for 9 days
Consequences of the strike for the unions
union membership fell
rise in unemployment
made illegal for unions to join together - trade unions act
Government and TUC actions
government took jobs with army, started propaganda - british gazette, fuelled the fear of communism with speeches, army stopped violent clashes.
TUC made newspaper - the British worker, some became violent, funds set up to feed the strikers
