Industrial Unrest 1918-27

Question 1

What was the situation at the end of the World War? What French beliefs did the workers have?

Answer 1

SYNDICALISM - Workers controlled the working conditions. In 1913, the Triple Industrial Alliance formed, making agreements to do sympathy strikes.

Question 2

When was the National Union of Railwaymen formed?

Answer 2

In 1913

Question 3

What was the Transport Workers Federation formed?

Answer 3

1910 after they had strikes for better pay.

Question 4

When was the Miners Federation of Great Britain and Ireland formed?

Answer 4

In 1910, they had strikes following this for a higher minimum wage.

Question 5

What were causes for increased militancy?

Answer 5

• Dilution of work with women and unskilled labour.
• A positive aspect of employment was nationalisation during the war.
• The shop stewards were trade union leaders who incited militancy.
• Munitions of War Act, munitions workers unable to leave unless they had permission by their employers. Strikes broke out in 1916 as a result, despite unions supporting the act. In Clydeside, workers went on strikes.
• Strikes illegal during war.

Question 6

What were problems after the world war? What happened to the trade unions through growth?

Answer 6

• Prices doubled but wages lagged behind.

- By 1920, the Trade Unions hit 8 million due to new government acceptance.

Question 7

What was the situation for coal miners before the war?

Answer 7

The mines were owned by the mine employers, and wages were decided by them. The miners had strikes for the national minimum wage. As a result, the government set district wages.

Question 8

What was the situation during the war?

Answer 8

The mines were nationalised and the government reduced hours while the coal industry grew. A national minimum wage was set.

Question 9

What was the situation after the war?

Answer 9

Mines were owned again by the leaders.
Exports were reduced to 270 million by 1924. Moreover, Germany and Poland sold coal for cheaper.
The mine owners were unwilling to nationalise and buy coal-cutting equipment.
There was competition in the Ruhr due to German reparations.

Question 10

Why did railwaymen strike in 1920?

Answer 10

Inflation, prices had tripled but wages lagged behind.
Inspiration from the Bolshevik revolution.
Wanted nationalisation for a minimum wage.

Question 11

What were causes for Black Friday, 1921? When was the Sankey Commission set up? What was the Tory response? What happened to exports in 1920?

Answer 11

In 1919 the government set up a Sankey Commission as they said the mines would no longer be nationalised. The 1920 commission, led by Sir John Sankey, said that the hours should be lower with higher pay and nationalisation.
Tories opposed this so Sir Lloyd George was unable to make the changes needed.
In 1921, there was a slump and the export prices fell to $1.20 but the government had to pay to keep the coal industry running.
They announced they would set the coal mines under the control of the employers on 31 March, where miners announced pay cuts and longer hours.

Question 12

What were the events? (Black Friday)

Answer 12

Herbert Smith of the MFBG refused to comply and on March 31, 1921, one million miners were locked out. On April 15th, the NUR and TWF announced they would sympathy strike, but when Herbert Smith refused to negotiate as Lloyd George couldn’t have the National Wages Board, miners were left to fight alone.

Question 13

What were effects of Black Friday?

Answer 13

• The Triple Alliance collapsed and was known as the ‘Cripple Alliance.’
• The miners were starved back to work where they had to accept an extra half hour on the day by July 1921.
• The families had to exist on ‘strike pay,’ with the unions with many families relying on soup kitchens.
• Trade unions became increasingly unpopular, so the General Council for the TUC was set up to represent future negotiations.

Question 14

What were the causes of Red Friday, 31 July 1925?

Answer 14

1923 - Due to passive resistance in Ruhr the coal prices in Britain increased.
1925 - As a result of price slumps, the mine owners announced pay cuts and an extra half hour. A J Cook refused and conspired the revival of the Triple Alliance.

Question 15

What were the events of Red Friday?

Answer 15

On 31 July, it was set for strikes to happen. The strikers would cut all land and water transport of coal! The government were frightened, so Stanley Baldwin…

• Set a subsidy of $24 million which would end by 1 May 1926.
• Set up a Samuel Commission to find problems and solution of mining industry.

Question 16

What were the results of Red Friday?

Answer 16

The trade unions were arrogant with their victory.
On the other hand, in September Stanley Baldwin set up the Organisation for the Maintenance of Supplies where the workers would volunteer in cases of a strike. The General Council of TUC did nothing.

Question 17

What did the Samuel Commission point out? (March 1926)

Answer 17

The subsidy should be ended.
The mines should be modernised.
The temporary wage cuts could be used to pay for the modernisation of the mines.
The miners should not have an extra hour on the day.

Question 18

What were responses to the 1926 Samuel Commission?

Answer 18

Workers were happy with modernisation but did not want wage cuts.
The TUC agreed to do a strike for shorter hours.
Stanley Baldwin was pleased and announced the end of the subsidy for 30 April 1926.
The mine owners refused to increase wages as they could not afford to. They wouldn’t modernise either.

Question 19

What events followed the commission leading to the strike?

Answer 19

13 April - owners announce cuts and extra working hour.
30 April - Owners compromise on 13% cuts but still had extra hour. Miners refused and were locked out.
1 May - A vote was set for a general strike and 3.5 million voted for.
3 May - the General Strike commenced!