Reasons for the General strike Flashcards
What does TUC stand for ?
Trade Unions congress
What happened to british trade between 1921 and 1925 ?
Stangnated and demand for coal declined
Unemployment hit 1 mil
When did GB return to the Gold standard ?
1925 (churchill was chancellor)
What was the gold standard ?
The gov only printed money that was backed with equal reserves of national gold. This would reduce the likelyhood of inflation.
How did the return to the gold standard effect workers ?
The supply of money being restricted made economic expansion difficult. Wages fell and unemloyment increased - since the pound was set to the value of $4.86, exports (including coal) became to expensive , which led to futher wage cuts.
In 1926 what proportion of the male workforce were miners ?
1/10 - over 1 million miners
What happened to miners wages throughout the 1920s ?
Faced wage cuts and rising unemployment.
British coal was less competitive on world market and less profitable. Miners looked to cut miners wages and increase ther hours in order to make the industry more competitive.
Why did the British coal industry decline in the 1920s (3 reasons) ?
Less demand for coal - After WW1 countries no longer needed to import coal from Britan. They had found other cheaper souces like Germany.
More and more countries using oil rather than coal for energy
More serious problem- British mines were old and outdated. Owners had refused to invest in new more efficient production techniques meaning Britans mines were less productive and competitive than likes of USA, Poland, Germany
What was Red Friday ?
31 July 1925 gov (under stanley baldwin ) announces a 9 month subsidy to allow coal mine owners to maintain wages at existing levels.
This was due to the threat of combined action organised by TUC as a result of wage cuts.
Seen as a victory for trade unions.
Encourages hope among some trade unionists that state intervention to support industry was not far off.
What was the coal conflict July 1925 ?
Coalmine owners try to cut wages by 10%
Miners reject this move
TUC’s general council request that railway men and other transport workers agree not to move coal around the country in event of a miners strike.
Why did Stanley Baldwins gov stop negotiating with the TUC in 1926?
Print workers refuse to print a pro gov editorial in the Daily Mail which labels miners as ‘revolutionary’
Gov saw this as attack by unions of freedom of press and political descision.
Although TUC apoligise - negotiatins end and genral strike called.
When was the general strike called ?
4th May 1926
Which party was Stanley Baldwin ?
Tory
