Theme 1 c 1 - Changing industrial relations 1918-39 Flashcards
What were the reasons for industrial change?
(4 main points)
- Much of British Industry after the war hadn’t moved on since Victorian times- it was still based in the centres of iron ore and coal in NE, South wales and Southern Scotland.
- Was still overwhelmingly heavy industry (which may have made Britain wealthy the previous century)- but now was often antiquated with old machinery, old methods of production, underinvestment and inability to compete with foreign competitors such as the USA.
- There were newer industries centred in the Midlands and southeast. Motor vehicles= most noticeable- adopting mass production techniques.
- There were more light engineering factories producing consumer goodsand household appliances for the domestic market such as washing machines and vacuum cleaners.
Reasons for industrial change
What had much of British industry after ww1 not really done?
What was it based in?
- Hadn’t moved on since Victorian times!
- Still based in the centres of iron ore and coal in the North of England, South Wales and southern Scotland.
Reasons for industrial change
What was British industry based on - in the NE, south Wales and southern Scotland?
Based in the centres of iron core and coal!
Reasons for industrial change
After the war Britain, was still overwhelmingly heavy industry (which may have made Britain wealthy during the previous century) but what was it often antiquated with?
Antiquated with old machinery, old methods of production, underinvestment and an inability to compete with foreign competitors such as the USA!
Reasons for industrial change
Where were newer industries centred?
In the Midlands and the southeast!
Reasons for industrial change
What were the most noticeable new industries and what did they adopt?
- Motor vehicles- adapting mass production techniques of companies such as Ford in the USA.
- There were also more light engineering factories producing consumer goods and household appliances for the domestic market such as washing machines and vaccum cleaners!
Reasons for industrial change
What did the light engineering factories produce and what were the factories often like?
- Produced consumer goods and household appliances for the domestic market such as washing machines and vacuum cleaners.
- Factories- often light and airy, and although unions often didn’t penetrate the work force, wages were good.
What does the “Two Englands “ refer to?
The older and newer centres of industry!
“Two Englands”
What happened to the workforce of cotton, mining and ship building?
They lost one third of their workforce!
Those making electrical appliances increased their workforce by what?
2 and a half times!
Those working in the building industry increased their workforce by what?
33%
What did service industries such as hotels and holiday camps increase their workforce by during the 1930s?
What was this a reflection of?
40%
Reflection of the fact that more people could take holidays, in 1939, 11.5 million people were awarded holiday pay for the first time.
In 1939, how many people were awarded holiday pay for the first time?
11.5 million people!
In what year were 11.5 million people awarded holiday pay for the first time?
1939
Industrial relations- 1918-21
During WW1, what had prime minister David Lloyd George negotiated with the trade union movement?
To keep strikes to a minimum- as the wartime economy had required a high degree of labour discipline.
Industrial relations- 1918-21
In 1917, how many strikes were there across Britian?
47 strikes!
Industrial relations- 1918-21
In what year were there 48 strikes across Great Britain?
1917
In 1917, how many workers were involved in the strikes?
200,000 workers
Industrial relations- 1918-21
By 1918, what had the relationship been like between the government and the workers?
It was deteriorating!
Industrial relations- 1918-21
In 1918 after armistice, what happened across the country???
There was an enormous wave of unrest across the country as not only the workers but soldiers and even the police went on strike as resentments and percieved injustices that had developed during the war were unleashed at the end of the conflict!
Industrial relations- 1918-21
As factories took on large numbers of men, what occurred as a result?
The number of strikes declined!
New jobs, many of which were well paid satisfied unionised British Workers!
Industrial relations- 1918-21
In 1919, how many days were lost to strikes?
32 million days!
Industrial relations- 1918-21
In what year were there 32 million days lost to strikes?
1919
Industrial relations- 1918-21
In 1920 ( at the height of the boom), what had the number of strikes fallen to?
25 million days ( compared to 32 million days the previous year) !!!
Industrial relations- 1918-21
In 1921, what happened to unemployment and what happened as a result with the number of strikes?
Unemployment soared and the workers who were in jobs saw their wages slump.
Strikes grew once more, reaching 84 million days lost!
Industrial relations- 1918-21
- What were many of the grievences of the strikers based around?
- What did a minority of strikers express?
- Repressed wages
- Rising prices
- Food shortages
Minority of strikers expressed a more political and ideological grievances!
Industrial relations- 1918-21
How were the government able to contain the strikes?
By offering concessions!
What strike occured in 1921?
The miners strike!
