Trade Union Militancy 1915-27 Flashcards
What were the trade unions and when did their influence rise?
Organisations seeking to unite workers and move towards improved working conditions
Influence rose during ww1 and increased 1914-19 due to economic challenges of war leading to gov nationalising industry
How many TU members in 1914 compared to 1919?
1914 189,000
1919 8,081,000
How much did industrial decrease in percentages in 1915?
Mining -21.8%
Iron and steel -18.8%
Engineering -29.5%
Shop building -16.5%
Why were coal miners at this time demanding 20% higher wages?
Worsened living conditions
Increased cost of living, rent, food and industrial products
Who was Bevin?
TU official for dockers union and national transport workers federation (NTWF)
Realised transport union had to work with coal and railways to win aims of higher wages and improved conditions (NUR)
Who was Thomas?
National union of railwaymen
Derby MP oversaw 1911 rail strike
Worked with Lloyd George within gov to secure improved pay and conditions for workers
Worked for TUC 1921-9
What was the triple alliance?
Promoted by Bevin and Thomas at start of war
United miners federation, NTWF and NUR to exert greater influence on gov-more effective strike action
What was the munitions of war act?
1915
Powers to regulate wages, hours and employment conditions
What was dilution?
Use of semi skilled or unskilled labour for skilled work-caused anger among TU as undermined position of privilege of skilled workers
Who was Shinwell?
Glasgow TUC
Prominent in clydeside-national dock strikes
Militant
Labour MP 1922
Who was Maxton?
Involved in Clydeside
Part of Clyde workers committee-campaign against munitions act
When was the Glasgow rent strike and what happened?
1915
Strikes by Clydeside engineers for pay rise
Anger at increased food prices and due to increased influx of men in city for war production-rents increased
Caused rent strikes in Glasgow-starting with women’s housing association
What did the gov pass in response to Glasgow rent strike?
Rents and mortgage interest restriction act
Limited rent and mortgage rates at levels before war
Huge triumph for TU-through use of militant protest in area vital to war production
When was the 40 hour strike and what happened?
1919
Local general strike throughout Glasgow protesting for 40-hour week
Surplus of jobs post war-to resolve unemployment hours reduced to allow more shifts for more people-unpopular with gov and employers
Tanks dispatched in some areas-Glasgow
Red flag raised to mark revolution
What was the impact of 40 hour strike?
1919 first political strike
TU realised potential for militant protest to influence gov policy
London tube striked
What was red Clydeside?
Rise of perception of fears of social revolution
Increased TU influence
Churchill remarked TU as effective device for preventing post war unemployment and wage reductions from reacHing point or revolution of
Benefitted unions-fear of rev-gov hoped TU would control industrial unrest-TU could be appeased with negotiations
Was there a TU revival 1919-21?
Change during wartime with rail and coal nationalised-TU hoped there would be not return to ore war position where industry run for profits of business owners
Business owners wanted to restore profits causing conflicts between TU and gov who were more readily equipped to deal with industrial disputes in 1921 than 1919
How did the GB industry become uncompetitive and what did the gov do to fix this?
Post war increased determination of employers and gov to return to competitive system
Increased pay and reduced hours due to war improvements made by gov GB uncompetitive compared to Germany and France
So working hours reduced and wages reduced due to post war recessions and industries returned to private ownership
When was nationalisation introduced and what was it?
1917
National regulation of wages to promote national wages for all coal miners
However Lloyd G realised wages had to be reduced due to increase GB competition for coal in foreign markets-but wanted to avoid strikes so set up Royal Commission to determine whether it should remain nationalised
When did coal industry become denationalised?
1921 coal industry returned to individual owners
Within days owners announced cuts to increase competitiveness
Wages reduced 30% and cost of living increased
Miners went on strike hoping for railway and transport union support
What was the impact of Black Friday and when was it?
1921
Miners wanted to keep wartime bonus campaign against denationalisation
Leaders or transport and railway unions ordered workers not to strike in sympathy with miners
Failure of strike and lack of NUR and NTWF support caused TRiple alliance to collapse-unable to cooperate without support miners failed
What was the emergency powers act and what did it replace?
Replaced defence of realm act which regulated industrial powers
EPA allowed gov to declare a national state of emergency in times of severe industrial unrest
Allowing provisions for maintaining supplies and power to civil service to regulate military
What did the gov appoint to deal with strikes and what did it do?
Industrial unrest committee
Not needed in 1919 as TA failed to work effectively
Recruited volunteers to replace strikers and tried to avoid army use avoid rev
Cooperation between gov and businesses to stockpile resources coal and oil
How did the strike committee work before 1921 Black Friday?
Reacted quickly to prevent miners strike from causing disruption-halted coal export, troops on alert, called state of emergency
Military intervention not needed gov well prepared
STC prevented strike from expanding to railways and transportation
Undermining TU action
When was the general council of TUC formed and why?
1920
To counter gov and employers attack on wages and hours
Tried to win trust of major unions eg NUR and TGWU (new transport union)
Who were the AEU?
In 1920 the amalgamated society of engineers became AEU
AEU expanded version of ASE absorbing local and regional unions for skilled engineering workers
Who were the council of action?
Formed in response to GB entering war with USSR 1920 by Labour and TU
CoA coordinated opposition to any attempt by GB to go to aid Poland ms war effort
Lost support by 1921 due to diminished chance of winning war wi Russia
CoA remained after 1921 performing propaganda role in labour movement councils providing infrastructure for coordinating future industrial conflict
1921-gov well equipped for TU militancy
What were the reasons for the general strike?
Long term causes
- change in industrial relations brought about by ww1
- fall in production and coal price
- rising TU discontent after embarrassment of Black Friday
- owners of mines to maintain profits by cutting wages and raising hours
- 1925 return to gold standard and overvalued strength of the pound-creating deflation and increased unemployment and reduced wages-constrained the economy
What was return of gold standard and when did it happen?
1925
Currency returned to value directly linked to gold
Caused deflation and increased unemployment reducing wages and constrained the economy
Miners wages reduced by 10% to keep competitive
What was the effect of reduced wages on British competitiveness?
Did not increase it
Reduced home demand for products and domestic spending increased unemployment further
What was red Friday?
Result of general strike caused breakdown of relations between TU, employees and gov
June 1925 coal mine owners attempted to abolish 1924 minimum wage agreement
General council of TUC halted coal imports in support of coal strike
Gov granted substitute for coal wages-triumph for TU almost reversal of failure of Black Friday
Reflected bad on PM Baldwin who was worried agitation would discredit Labour Party rep and responsible political organisation
What was the breakdown of negotiations 1926?
Red Friday short time solution
Gov used this respite to organise counter strike measures administered by STC
Effective anti strike action in place
By 1926 ready for industrial militancy
Baldwin and cons tried to get owners and unions to compromise but miners refused wage reductions and locked miners out causing general strike organisation
How did gov respond to general strike?
Baldwin wanted to resolve peacefully but pushed towards tougher action by Churchill
3rd may volunteers sent out to take on jobs of strikers to maintain food and supplies
Support by London Underground ensured good food distribution and transport maintained
-increased tensions in classes MC and UC undermining WC strike
Formed civil constabulary reserve-prevent widespread use of army
Food and supplies kept running-no breakdown in order
How was the media involved in the general strike?
Churchill as editor of British gazette and published throughout strike to inform public that gov was in strong position and disruption minimal
TUC propaganda restrained preventing bbc form broadcasting sympathy
Limited armed force demonstrated Baldwin gov never threatened by possible civil war
Cons press tried to encourage fear that rev was likely and painted Baldwin as not believing in rev
What was the extent of the general strike?
1.5-1.75 million workers came to support 1 million coal miners already locked out
TUC prepared poorly only made arrangements late April but success in support
10 power stations cut electricity in London
But many remained
TU Strike committee only had symbolic control over movement many workers known as ‘black legs’ went on strike but continued working
Strike not effective as leaders would have liken but did have some support so cannot be blamed singly for failure
Why did the strike get cut short and who by?
The TUC called off strike 12 May
Seen as betrayal to workers-Thomas wanted to end strike before it got out of hand-did not want it to escalate beyond industrial dispute-so when Churchill spoke of revolution unfolding the general council were keen to cut deal
-memory of Black Friday caused TUC to be pessimistic that victory was impossible
TU leadership seemed autocratic
Tried to make negotiations for reorganisation of wages and hours but miners rejected. Bevin tried to make sure miners would not be victimised but no agreement made
What was the trades dispute act and when was it passed?
1927
Regulate strike action restraining trade unions and their association to the central TUC
Act made it illegal for a general strike to be called if it’s specified that if a strike was called to exert influence on the gov it was illegal
Impact limited
What happened to strikers after the general strike?
Returned to work-achieved nothing
Employers tried to ensure strikers could never repeat response of 1926 many attempted to make a union membership. Barrier to employment
Many strikers struggled to get jobs back
Many wages cut
What happened to TU movement after 1926 general strike?
Divided by allegations of betrayal of TUC as they failed to protect members from pay strike victimisation
Decline in membership 5,200,000 to 4,400,000
When was triple alliance formed?
1915
What day did general strike begin and when did it end?
Start 3 may 1926
End 12 may 1926
When was trade union council established?
1919
