Trade Union Revival Flashcards
1919-21
What was the state of GB’s economy in 1920?
Industry was uncompetitive due to higher wages and shorter hours won by trade unions during the war. To increase competitiveness, business owners sought to reverse these two factors.
How strong was the Triple Alliance in 1919?
Mixed - Thomas negotiated with gov to ensure railway wages would not be severely reduced and hat wartime bonus wages would continue into peacetime. When the gov refused the latter Thomas called a strike in Sept 1919. The gov panicked at the prospect of a Triple Alliance strike, deploying troops at a major station in London. Yet the strike was not supported by the miners and transport workers.
Why did PM Lloyd George establish the Sankey Commission?
He realised that wages would have to be cut to make coal more competitive, yet he also wanted to avoid industrial disputes. LG set up a Royal Commission under the leadership of John Sankey to investigate the coal industry. This removed the threat of strikes between 1919 and 1922, yet in 1921 the gov returned this industry to private owners (despite Sankey’s recommendation to keep it nationalised).
What was Black Friday 1921?
During 1921 pay for coal miners fell by 30% and they came out on strike hoping for support from the railway and transport unions - yet neither of these unions did. By the end of 1921 the miners were forced by hunger to return to work - this failure to support each other led to the collapse of the Triple Alliance.
What measures did the government in 1919/20 take to prepare for future industrial conflict?
The Emergency Powers Act 1920 allowed the government to declare a national state of emergency in times of severe industrial unrest and to allow for the quick passing of emergency legislation to regulate militancy. In February 1919 it appointed the Industrial Unrest Committee (-> the Supply and Transport Committee). The STC would make plans to recruit volunteers to replace striking labourers, as well as oversee the stockpiling of resources such as coal and oil.
How did the Trade Unions attempt to increase their strength after BF?
In 1921 a new General Council of the TUC was formed to counter the government’s and employers’ relentless attacks on wages and hours. The General Council tried to win the trust of the major unions and by 1924 had secured the support of the railwaymen and miners.
Furthermore, two new unions would emerge from Black Friday. From 1922 the TGWU (Transport and General Workers Union) and the AEU (Amalgamated Society of Engineers) was formed in 1920 representing iron-founders, builders, carpenters and skilled engineering workers.
