History- Build up to the General Strike 1918-1926 Flashcards
As women were gaining influence, so were the trade unions- especially after the First World War. They became much more active in trying to get better pay and conditions by holding strikes.
Unions were in a strong position after the war
During the First World War, the unions cooperated with the government. Between 1914 and 1918, there were hardly any strikes. Wages in industry were good. Membership of many unions went up. High wages and memberships strengthen the unions. After the war there was less pressure to avoid strikes – and disputes over pay began again.
Police and railway workers held successful strikes in 1918 and 1919.
Total union membership in 1920 was 8.3 million.
Two new unions were founded – the amalgamated engineering union in 1920, and the transport and General workers union in 1921. Both became extremely large and powerful.
There was trouble in the coal industry…
During the 1920s there were constant disputes between the coal miners and the mine owners, over pay and the length of the working day. These disputes eventually lead to the general strike.
During the First World War the coal industry was nationalised – the government took over ownership and control of the mines.
In 1919 a royal commission was appointed to decide whether to return the mines to private ownership. The commission recommended that the government should keep the mines. Lloyd George’s coalition government wasn’t keen and privatised in 1921.
People were beginning to use gas, oil and electricity more than coal. Also mines in Germany and Poland were using efficient modern machinery, which produced more coal more quickly and cheaply. Customers couldn’t afford British Coal, and mines became less and less profitable.
…which led to a strike in the coal industry
the new private mine owners announced the cutting wages and longer working hours for the miners.
The miners union was in the triple alliance with the transport workers and railwaymen. When they went on strike they asked for support from the Allies. The transport workers and railwaymen thought the miners should’ve tried harder to negotiate, and refused to join the strike on 15 April 1921. This day became known as ‘Black Friday’.
The strike was a failure – eventually they had to go back to work and accept worse conditions.
In 1925 coal sales dropped off. Mine owners announced more wage cuts and longer hours.
The miners began negotiations, backed by the trade union Congress – the Federation of all the unions.
One “Red Friday” in July 1925, the government agreed to pay a subsidy to keep miners wages at the same level. The subsidy would be paid for nine months.
At the same time a Royal commission – the Samuel commission – looked into what could be done to sort out disputes. The Samuel commission reported in March 1926.
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