Trade unionism during WW1 Flashcards
1
Q
How did WW1 change the economy
A
- labour shortage - 1/3 left to fight
- shortage of imports of raw materials
- decline in industrial production
- increase in cost of living
2
Q
Mary Barbour
A
- instrumental to success of rent strikes
- alerted tenants to prescence of baliffs
- Mrs Barbour’s army - Glasglow womens housing association
3
Q
Glasgow rent strike 1915
A
- increased pressure on housing due to influx of workers
- landlords exploited increase by raising rents
- May 1915, 25,000 tenants joined the movement after tenants faced with court action and enforced evictions
- strikers supported by employers and gov - didn’t want to see production drop
- passed legislation which froze rents at pre-war level
4
Q
James Henry Thomas
A
- general secretary of National Union of Railwayment (NUR)
- worked with Lloyd George to secure improvements in workers pay and conditions
5
Q
Ernest Bevin
A
- elected to executive committee of the National Transport Workers’ Federation (NTWF)
- realised the importance of collaberation between unions
6
Q
Triple alliance 1914
A
- Miners union united with the NTWF and NUR
- represented miners, railwaymen and transport workers
- helped effective co-ordination of strike action
7
Q
James Maxton
A
- Scottish socialist and member of ILP
- involved in organising strikes among shipyard workers on Clydeside
- became a labour MP in 1922
8
Q
Manny Shinwell
A
- Socialist, ILP
- local leader of British Seafarers Union
- elected labour MP in 1922
9
Q
Forty hours strike 1919
A
- war contracts completed and soldiers returned
- Joint strike committe of Glasgow suggested a reduction in working hours
- 50,000 men on strike
- Shinwell threatened to shut off Glasgow’s power stations and trams
10
Q
‘Battle of George square’
A
- ‘battle of George square’ - mass meeting held
- sudden police charge led to a riot
- Churchill sent 10,000 troops
- red flag raised on a pole in Glasgow
- Shinwell sentenced to 5 months in prison for incitement to riot
