Trade Union Militancy 1915-1927 Flashcards
How many men died from Great Britain after World War One?
upwards of 820,000 men
What did the huge loss of life result in?
The working class believed they had suffered greatly and in return they deserved increased wages and improve working conditions.
Where was Britain’s wealth derived from?
Heavy industry, built on iron production and coal mining.
Why did WW1 make the lives of workers worst?
Rising costs of living, increasingly expensive rent, long hours, restricted movement between jobs and an influx of unskilled labour .
Why were workers able to campaign against the government?
Increased demand for labour allowed them to campaign.
How much % did working-class labourers make up of the nations workforce.
70%
What did the wartime sacrifices and the threat of the potential for militant industrial protest convince some trade unionists?
The traditional capitalist system would change, with the sharing of profits more evenly and that working conditions would improve.
What’s one reason as to why trade unions became more important during WW1?
- 1919 there were over 8 million members of unions compared to 4.2 million in 1914- this made unions more confident in their dealings with employers.
Whats another reason why trade unions became more important during WW1?
Nationalisation of key industries such as railways and coal brought the unions into direct contact with the government, thus removing the business owners and allowing for direct negotiations. The government had to cooperate with the unions to ensure that output remained high during the war.
What does nationalisation mean?
the transfer of a major branch of industry or commerce from private to state ownership or control.(opposite to privatisation)
What was the role of Ernest Bevin?
Wanted to unite militancy, the
