Industrial unrest 1908-1914

Question 1

What was industrial unrest?

Answer 1

In 1908 there was increased strike action, and days working were lost.
In 1909, this was reduced.
In 1910, there was a period of major unrest which continued until World War 1.
Strike waves broke out larger than before, and there were clashes between the strikers and troops.

Question 2

What were the causes of the strikes?

Answer 2

Wages
Conditions
Union recognition
Unemployment
Rise of urbanisation
Osbourne judgement

Question 3

How did wages and conditions cause strikes?

Answer 3

The wages were falling compared to prices.
The conditions were poor.
Economic slowdown which led to wage cuts and unemployment.
There was an increased awareness of these factors (urbanisation).
Employers did not want to improve these.

Question 4

Why did union recognition cause strikes?

Answer 4

There was growth in union membership after 1901, because of the Taff Vale case.
From 2 million in 1900 to 2.5 million in 1910, amd 4.1 million in 1914.
This was due to the growing frustration of industrial workers.
And the unions were amalganating into federations so were larger scale.

Question 5

Why did the rise of urbanisation cause strikes?

Answer 5

There was an increase in the number of people living in poor conditions, which led to awareness of the poor working conditions and pay.
Political ideas spread more easily, and because education was made more available.
The presence of Labour MPs in parliament did not appear to bring clear benefits to workers so the number of memberships in unions increased.

Question 6

What was the aim of the strikes in general?

Answer 6

There were many strikes.
They were as a result of discontent with authority and politics just as much as specific grievances like wages and conditions.
This was a problem for Labour who aimed to represent them in parliament.

Question 7

What was the Osbourne Judgement 1909?

Answer 7

It stopped the Trade Unions from using funds for political purposes.
This meant it was more difficult for them to give money to the Labour party who were supposed to represent them and used the money to campaign and pay MPs.
This meant the Trade Unions representation was lost and their politcal voice, which increased strikes as it was their only option.

Question 8

What was the miners strike (in south wales)?

Answer 8

Miners strike in South Wales, September 1910 - August 1911.
Why: The miners refused the new wages and wanted a new minimum wage.
What happened: This was a larger strike than ever before, with 30,000 miners.
There were clashes between strikers and troops.
To resolve: Army troops were sent in but the government did not order violence.

Question 9

What was the Sailors, dockers and railway workers strike?

Answer 9

August 1911.
There were clashes between strikers and the police and troops, where several people died.
Resolved: It collapsed due to lack of solidarity (unity).

Question 10

What was the National railway workers strike?

Answer 10

August 1911
Why: The workers were frustrated that their demands had not been met by the Conciliation Board.
Resolved: The government intervened and ended in the unions favour after 2 days, due to Lloyd George’s negotiations.

Question 11

What was the National Miners strike?

Answer 11

February 1912.
Why: Wanted a new minimum wage.
Resolved: The government intervened and gave a new minimum wage but not at their desired rate.

Question 12

What was the National Dock strike?

Answer 12

May 1912.

It was resolved by government intervention but were unable to find any solution.

Question 13

What were the 14 strikes?

Answer 13

July 1910: Railway strike
September 1910: Cotton industry stoppage.
September - December 1910: Boilermaker’s strike.
September 1910 - August 1911: Miner’s strike in South Wales.
June 1911: 10 day strike of seamen and firemen.
August 1911: Docker’s strike.
August 1911: National railway strike.
August 1911: 11 day strike of dockers.
December 1911: Weavers strike.
February 1912: National Miner’s strike.
May 1912: National Dock strike.
July 1912: Suffragette violence.

Question 14

Why were strikes a cause for concern for the government?

Answer 14

Industrial unrest in this period and strikes were of national scale and larger than before.
Therefore there was the potential for major disruption.
For example:
40 million working days were lost through stoppages in 1912.
December 1912 weaver’s strike - £1 million lost in wages.
The Triple Alliance.

Question 15

What was the Triple Alliance?

Answer 15

Formed in 1914 by the miners, dockers and railway workers.
They agreed to work together and take action in support of each other in future strike action.
However, although they formed this alliance, they did not act in unison.
This lack of coordination prevented the threat of a general strike before 1914.
War also temporarily halted the strife.

Question 16

What is Syndicalism?

Answer 16

A revolutionary movement calling on workers to overthrow industrial capitalism by direct/violent action.

Question 17

Who were syndicalists?

Answer 17

Tom Mann: held influence over the leader of the dockers, Ben Tillet, and was active in strikes 1910-11.
Sam Mainwary: supported by unions.
Guy Bowman.

Question 18

How did syndicalism have an important role in industrial unrest?

Answer 18

Some trade unionists leaders were syndicalists, for example AJ Cook, miner.
Therefore some trade unions were following syndicalism.
Some trade unions used syndicalist tactics and supported syndicalists like Bowman and Mann.

Question 19

How did syndicalism have a limited role in industrial unrest?

Answer 19

Historian Henry Pelling said: most trade union members were moderate and believed in the parliamentary process rather than violence.
There was little appeal to many British workers.
Only 4/14 strikes had syndicalist involvement.
Strikes started at a local level.
Many historians rejected the view that syndicalism spread widely and deeply among working people.
SO it did play a role but overall it played a limited part in the industrial unrest.

Question 20

How did industrial unrest pose a real challenge to the rule of law and government?

Answer 20

The potential for national disruption was significant.
It prevented them from dealing with other problems happening simultaneously, e.g. suffragettes, house of lords and home rule.
Strikes were of a larger scale and violence was used, e.g. Tony Pandy November 1910: 1 killed and over 500 injured.
Police and troops were used in some strikes which challenged the rule of law.

Question 21

How did industrial unrest not pose a real challenge to the rule of law and government?

Answer 21

Lack of coordination prevented a general strike and prevented true unionisation (triple alliance).
There was no real chance of the government being overthrown, but were the trade unions trying to overthrow it?
Syndicalism did not appeal to many.
The war meant that it was put on hold temporarily, as with Ulster and suffragettes.

Question 22

What was the role of the government in resolving the strikes?

Answer 22

The strikes were national and simultaneous.
The government, David Lloyd George mainly, got involved to negotiate for solution.
The main example of this is the Miners Strike in 1912.
The willingness of the government to intervene directly in relations between employers and employees showed an extension of state power.