Power and the people - Workers' rights

Question 1

How were Britain’s heavy industries during the First World War?

Answer 1

• Because of the demand for armaments, Britain’s heavy industries had high output and a dramatic increase in people working for them
• All coal mines had been nationalised during the war, and the miners hoped that they would continue to be owned by the country when the war ended
• this would mean the government would be obliged to invest money, thus their jobs would be safe.

Question 2

What happened to Britain’s mining industry after WWI?

Answer 2

• After the war, the government was quick to return the control of mines to their private owners
• this resulted in a fall in the demand for coal

Question 3

Why was there a fall in demand for coal?

Answer 3

• Mines in countries such as Germany had more modern equipment, as they were owned by big companies that could invest lots of money in new technology
• Increasingly, British mines could not compete with their output
• The unions wanted the government to renationalise the mines; the mines needed investment

Question 4

What occurred on “Black Friday”?

Answer 4

• On Friday 15th April 1921, mine owners announced an extension of the working day, along with a drop in wages.
• The miners were outraged and decided to strike
• The Trades Union Congress called other industries out on strike in solidarity.
• However, the railway and dockers’ unions pulled out because they were not as worried for their jobs
• The miners felt that they had no other option but to return to work wth longer days and for lower wages

Question 5

What occurred on “Red Friday?

Answer 5

• In 1925, the price of coal fell again and the mine owners declared further changes to hours and pay
• Because PM Stanley Baldwin knew other unions would support the miners this time, he agreed to subsidise with the coal industry
• He also set up the Samuels commission, the job of which was to reach an agreement between the miners and the mine owners

Question 6

What occurred in April 1926?

Answer 6

Baldwin’s subsidy money ran out: the TUC met to discuss action

Question 7

What occurred on May 1st 1926?

Answer 7

On the 1st May - May day: a day when workers’ rights are celebrated - they agreed to strike

Question 8

What was the general strike?

Answer 8

• On 3rd May, Britain’s first General Strike began: ships unloaded in docks, trains didn’t move and coal wasn’t mined. The strike divided the country
• the General Strike lasted for nine days

Question 9

What were the Government’s actions to limit the General Strikes’ impact?

Answer 9

• they used the Emergency Powers Act from the First World War to arrange for the army to take over the jobs of the striking workers
• encouraged middle-class students to take a break from university and work in heavy industries; more than 226,000 students volunteered
• The government started a propaganda campaign with their own newspaper, The British Gazette, which tried to turn the public against the strikers
• Armoured cars, driven by the army and police, were sent to key cities to stop the violent clashes between the strikers and government supporters. They were armed with machine guns

Question 10

What were the TUC’s actions to make the strike effective?

Answer 10

• created their own newspaper, The British Worker, and used it to explain the motivations of the strike
• they also used the paper to remind the strikers to remain peaceful and not use violent tactics
• however, some strikers did become violent and there were clashes with the police
• strikers travelled the country to picket with other industries in solidarity
• funds were set up to help feed the strikers and their families. This would ensure the strike could keep going

Question 11

What occurred after the General Strike?

Answer 11

• On the 12th of May, the strike ended with the TUC deciding to negotiate with the government and finally accepting the findings of the Samuel Commission. However, the miners’ federation refused to take part in these negotiations.
• The TUC had run out of money and could not possibly continue with the strike action
• the violent actions meant that the public opinion had gone against the strikers
• the labour party was also not in full support of the strike action.

Question 12

What were the consequences of the strike for the unions?

Answer 12

• The government passed the Trades Disputes and Trade Unions Act in 1927, which made it illegal for unions to join together to strike
• Unions could no longer use money from union memberships to fund political parties. This had an impact on the union’s relationship with the Labour Party and weakened its power of the unions.
• Union membership would not reach peak levels again until the Second World War