Trade Unions Flashcards
1
Q
by 1919, unions had a membership of over _m compared to _ million in 1914 - this resulted in….
A
- by 1919, unions had a membership of over 8m compared to 4 million in 1914 - this resulted in increased union confidence in their dealings with employers
2
Q
why was the nationalisation of industries like coal + railways positive for trade unionists
A
- nationalisation brought unions into direct contact with the Gov, thus removing the business owners + allowing for direct negotiations
3
Q
outline the role of Ernest Bevin
A
- founder + leader of the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) in 1922
- was a leading member of the National Transport Workers’ Federation (NTWF)
- leading member of Trade Union Congress (TUC)
- during the General Strike, Bevin was in charge of coordinating activities of the unions
4
Q
outline the role of James Thomas
A
- helped form the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) in 1913
- he was leader of the NUR from 1917
- a moderate Labour MP from 1910-36
- Thomas was reluctant to lead the NUR into the 1926 General Strike
5
Q
outline the role of Manny Shinwell
A
- a moderate member of the Independent Labour Party - elected in 1922
- a key figure in Clydeside
- leader of 40 hour strike
6
Q
outline the role of James Maxton
A
- a very radical + vocal member of the Independent Labour Party - elected in 1922
- a key figure in Clydeside
7
Q
outline the Munitions of War Act
A
- the Munitions of War Act 1915 placed new constraints on workers’ freedom;
- gave the Gov the power to change wages, hours and conditions
- gov could prevent skilled workers moving into unskilled, but better paid engineering work, by insisting they had a leaving certificate from their previous employer
- this gave employers huge power over workers - they could treat them badly + had control over their future job prospects
8
Q
what strengthened TUs voice in Gov
A
- Labour’s involvement in Asquith’s 1915 coalition, as Labour is more likely to listen to TUs
9
Q
when was the Triple Alliance formed + who was included within it
A
- 1914, aimed to increase Union influence
- consisted of miners, railwaymen, transport workers
10
Q
when was Black Friday + its significance
A
- 1921
- it destroyed the triple alliance - showed they weren’t a united front
11
Q
when was the General Strike
A
- 1926
12
Q
how was Red Friday a success
A
- their threat of a general strike scared the Gov into adhering to their demands (not cutting their wages)
13
Q
what was the effect of WW1 on British society + workers
A
- Britain’s wealth during the war was largely built on iron production + coal mining - of which workers were poorly paid + worked in terrible conditions for long hours
- with the vast loss of life (more than 820,000), it formed the idea that the WC had largely suffered - they paid a sacrifice that entitled them to inc wages + better working conditions
- with the rising cost of living, rising rent, influx of unskilled workers + long hours all contributed to worsening the conditions of industrial labourers
- workers took advantage of the increased demand for labour during the war + campaigned for improvements
14
Q
outline the Glasgow Rent Strike
A
- Glasgow was the center of industrial unrest, along its shipyards on the River Clyde
- strikes starting in 1915 by engineers for a pay rise marked the start of escalating unrest until May 1916
- unrest was caused by landlords taking advantage for the rising demand of housing from workers + raising rent prices
- a rent strike, led by the Glasgow Women’s Housing Association spread + working men joined
- Nov 1915: the gov limited rent + mortgage rates to pre-war levels - partly due to Maxton’s calls for a general strike
- was a huge triumph + demonstrated the ability of the unions to pressurize gov
- through industrial militancy in an area essential for wartime production, rent strikers + trade unionists had won a considerable improvement in living conditions
15
Q
outline the formation of the Triple Alliance
A
- trade unionists realized that to improve working conditions + pay, unions had to work together to coordinate militancy - Ernest Bevin + James Thomas led these early efforts to unite militancy
- the Triple Alliance was a loose alliance between the big 3 unions (miners, railway men, and transport workers)
- it aimed to provide mutual support in the event of one union striking
- it hoped it would put unions in a stronger position to achieve their aims, as the govt would want to avoid large scale industrial disruptions
16
Q
in the _, working class labourers made up _% of Britain’s workforce
A
- in the 1920s, working class labourers made up 70% of Britain’s workforce
17
Q
what were the 1920’s like in terms of industry
A
- the 1920s were a hard time, with Britain’s industrial output collapsing after the short lived post war economic boom
- employers were determined to reduce wages
18
Q
Clydeside built _ ships for the Royal Navy during WW1, and provided _% of armour for tanks
A
- Clydeside built 480 ships for the Royal Navy during WW1, and provided 90% of armour for tanks
19
Q
how did Red Clydeside come to prominence
A
- it first came to prominence when strikes there in Aug 1915 persuaded the government to abolish the controversial leaving certificates
- this was a significant victory in demonstrating union power + influence
20
Q
_ _ became an _ of trade union’s growing influence
A
- Red Clydeside became an emblem of trade union’s growing influence
21
Q
outline the 40 hour strike
A
- Jan 1919: a local general strike (not supported by TUC) was organized in Glasgow to campaign for a 40 hour week
- this strike was joined by London + Belfast unions - but Glaswegian authorities overreacted - tanks + troops were dispatched and a riot broke out
- whilst wartime strikes weren’t political, this 1919 local strike made workers realise the potential for militant protest to influence gov policy
22
Q
why was Clydeside political activism so important
A
- Clydeside political activism was so important within the context of GB’s growing trade union movement as militant protests there were both dramatic + successful
- revolutionaries + agitators such as Maxton + Shinwell earned Glasgow a reputation as a centre of socialism
- Red Clydeside became an emblem of the unions growing influence
23
Q
between - _ GB appeared on the verge of a _ revolution
A
- between February-March 1919 GB appeared on the verge of a social revolution
24
Q
what was the effect of fears of socialist agitation
A
- through fears of a socialist revolution, trade unions’ influence actually increased, with the gov hoping that the unions would control industrial unrest
- whilst revolutionaries required military force to be suppressed, trade unionists could be appeased with negotiations
- however Glasgow 1919 disproved this - authorities prematurely used military intervention
25
outline Glasgow's political atmosphere after the 1919 40 hour strikes
- Glasgow/ Red Clydeside became a center of Labour Party support, securing 10 out of the 15 seats available
- this group of MPs, including Shinwell + Maxton formed a united group in PLT, determined to improve WC conditions
26
outline 3 points that show increased trade union influence between 1915-19
- the inclusion of Labour in Asquith's 1915 coalition gov strengthened the trade union voice in government, as Labour was more likely to work with unions
- with the enlistment of 5m men in the war from the 15m workforce left the remaining workers (esp skilled) in a strong bargaining position - the gov largely depended on them
- the formation of the Triple Alliance ensured a significant increase in union influence over gov
27
outline 2 points that show limited trade union influence between 1915-19
- dilution (using unskilled or semi-skilled workers for skilled tasks) cause significant anger among workers
- the Munitions of War Act 1915 placed further constraints on workers' freedoms
28
outline an example of dilution
- the use of 14,000 women in Clyde caused strikes in May 1917
29
outline nationalisation of industry during the war
- nationalisation during the war was needed to maintain production levels - any profit earned from coal had been pooled + divided to provide national wages for all coal miners (as opposed to local rates of pay before)
- trade unionists were keen for this to continue - Thomas believed there was a realistic chance of securing a 44 hour week
- there was a clear argument for nationalisation to continue - the railways operated more efficiently under gov control
30
outline Britain's economy after the war
- despite an initial boom, GB's economy suffered in the 1920s, with the country struggling to recapture the trade markets it had dominated in 1914
- GBs industry was uncompetitive due to higher wages + shorter hours won by trade unionists during the war
- to inc competitiveness, business owners sought to revise these factors
31
outline the Transport strike in 1919
- March 1919: Thomas (Railway men/ Transport) negotiated with the gov to ensure railway wages wouldn't severely reduce + wartime bonus wages continued
- when the gov refused to make the bonus a peacetime settlement, Thomas called a strike in Sept 1919
- the gov panicked, and deployed troops in London
- the strike wasn't supported by the miners or transport workers (only railwaymen) - the miners had already won a 20% wage rise + hour cut
- this lack of support from the TA led to Black Friday - which saw the collapse of the TA
32
outline Black Friday
- in 1921, the gov returned the coal industry to private ownership (ignoring the Sankey Commission)
- pay fell by 30% + the cost of living increased
- miners came out on strike hoping for support from the TA, but the NTWF (Railwaymen) were more worried about the effects of the depression on their jobs, and the NUR (railway) agreed with the NTWF to not give support
- by the end of 1921, miners were forced back into work by hunger - this failure of support led to the collapse of the Triple Alliance - this failed strike was named Black Friday
33
outline the Sankey Comission
- PM Lloyd George realised that wages had to be cut to make the coal industry more competitive - but wanted to avoid industrial disputes
- LG set up a 1919 Commission led by John Sankey to solve this issue
- he recommended keeping the coal industry nationalised
- however, in 1921, the gov returned this industry to private owners - going against the Sankey Commission
34
outline the impact of Black Friday 1921
- Black Friday weakened the position of Trade Unions by indicating that the threat of a united front was a myth
- it also marked the end to govt involvement in pay + employment reforms
- for the rest of the 1920s, the govt refused to intervene
- with the lack of gov support + the collapse of the TA, employers in all industries forced down wages - trade unions could do little to prevent this
35
from _-_ there was a decline in industrial unrest - _m working days lost to disputes compared to _m by _
- from 1921-23 there was a decline in industrial unrest - 85.5m working days lost to disputes compared to 10.7m by 1923
36
what was the govt attitude to strikes after Black Friday 1921
- the failed strikes confirmed that the gov, who imported cheap foreign coal during the strikes, were equally as determined to counter industrial efforts to secure greater influence
- throughout 1919, the gov had built up an effective ant-strike apparatus + quickly gained experience of how to deal with strikes
- e.g. appointment of the Industrial Unrest Committee/ Supply and Transport Committee (STC)
37
outline the Emergency Powers Act
- passed in 1920
- allowed the gov to declare a national state of emergency in times of severe industrial unrest + to allow for the quick passing of emergency legislation to regulate militancy
38
outline the STC
- STC = Supply and Transport Committee (formerly known as Industrial Unrest Committee)
- appointed in Feb 1919 under Eric Geddes to act as a strike breaking machine + advise the gov on how to respond to industrial unrest
- the STC would recruit volunteers to replace striking labourers + stockpile resources, e.g. coal
- in 1921, the STC proved very effective in preventing coal strikes from being disruptive
- the STC would play a crucial role in the disturbances of 1926
39
what was the result of Government activity after 1921
- this government activity was an attempt to return to pre-WW1 state of industrial relations - where workers debated pay + conditions, with the Gov acting the arbitrator (settler)
- while TUs had gained influence between 1915-21, the state had taken steps to limit the impact of strike action of which measures undermined the TUCs strength
40
outline the context behind the formation of the AEU + TGWU
- TUs were preparing for future conflict + Bevin wanted to ensure that Black Friday would never repeat
- he worked to replace the old unstable Triple Alliance with a centralised structure for industrial coordination
- 1921: a new General Council of the TUC was formed to counter the Govt + employers' relentless attacks on wages + hours
- by 1924, the General Council had secured the support of the railwaymen + miners
- 2 new unions would emerge from Black Friday (AEU, TGWU)
41
outline the formation of the AEU
- AEU = Amalgamated (united) Society of Engineers
- formed in 1920
- represented iron founders, builders, carpenters and skilled engineers
- the strength of the AEU was the skilled craftsman membership who could afford to pay 1 shilling a week
- this made the AEU financially stable + able to fund strikes - employers were discouraged from getting into conflict with them
42
outline the formation of the TGWU
- TGWU = Transport + General Workers' Union
- formed in 1922
- replaced the NTWF as the leading transport union with Bevin acting as general secretary
- it represented 350,000 workers + covered a wide range of trades, from dock and road workers to clerical and administrative workers
43
outline the formation of the Council of Action
- the Council of Action was formed in 1918 by Socialists + TUs
- was formed in response to the risk of GB entering war against Soviet Russia
- to prevent GB supporting Poland (was fighting Russia), they prepared t hold strikes to disrupt British production - Gov feared their collective revolutionary threat
- HOWEVER, these councils were losing popular support by 1921 - Gov concluded they were unable to form a serious general strike
- nevertheless, the councils remained + provided an infrastructure for the coordination of future industrial conflict
44
what were the strengths of Government action
- passing of the Emergency Power Act 1920
- anti-strike apparatus 1919
- STC 1919
- politically strong enough to reject remaining nationalised (rejection of Sankey Commission)
45
what were the strengths of Trade Union action
- formation of the Triple Alliance 1919
- strengthened links between TU + Labour Party (have a political voice)
- General Council 1921 (increased solidarity + coordination)
- formation of Councils of Action
46
what were the weaknesses of Government action
- choice to not remain nationalisation of coal industry
- the higher wages + shorter hours won by TUs
- economic problems of GB after WW1 (productivity, rivalry from competitors)
47
what were the weaknesses of Trade Union action
- failure of Triple Alliance in 1921
- Black Friday 1921
- miners forced back into work due to hunger
- James Thomas' failed negotiations
- coal miners pay reduction of 30% due to return of mine privatisation
48
what 3 ways did the individual leaders of the TUs benefit the TUs
- they offered a link between the unions + the Labour Party because the leaders often had a role in both groups - e.g. Thomas was both a Labour MP and a union leader
- they provided organisation to the TUs, as they led protests + negotiations - e.g. Maxton was a great orator + described by Churchill as 'the best Parliamentarian of his day'
- they offered a radical voice in PLT to present socialist TUs, as many were Labour MPs - e.g. Thomas, Shinwell, Maxton
49
in what way did the individual leaders of the TUs disadvantage the TUs
- the leaders in some instances made decisions which led to failures for the TUs
- e.g. Bevin's decision to withdraw from the 1926 General Strike + Thomas' lack of support for Black Friday led to failure of strikes + collapse of Triple Alliance
50
who were the reserve constables in the 1926 General Strike
- Cambridge University undergraduates acted as reserve constables - tanks were used to protect food transportation especially, but not against the strikers themselves
- this was due to the STC's measures
51
outline the first 3 days of the General Strike 1926
- 4th May 1926: a general strike is called by TUC to support owners who want wage reductions + hours inc. huge numbers of transport, engineers + coal workers striked
- 5th May: Govt acted aggressively + tried to exert control over media - e.g. of BBC + published newspaper 'The British Gazette'
- 6th May: MC volunteers partly maintain productivity in buses + trains. PM, Baldwin, declares the strike an attack on GB democracy
52
outline the last 3 days of the General Strike 1926
- 7th May: Gov calls army to cities (e.g. London), seizes all supplies of paper - hinders publication of TUC's 'The British Worker'
- 10th May: Thomas is in secret negotiations with mine owners, gov arrests increase
- 11th May: TUC/ Thomas calls off the strike - miners are left to struggle until November when they're forced to go back to work for less pay + longer hours
53
outline economic depression as a reason for the 1926 General Strike
- between 1921-25, British trade stagnated - wages fell and unemployment hit 1 million
- this was exacerbated by Churchill's return to the Gold Standard in 1925 to reduce inflation - made the supply of money restricted, making economic expansion difficult
53
what were the results of the General Strike
- miners were defeated
- TUC was ruined - membership fell from 5.5m in 1925- 3.7m in 1930
- the Trade Dispute Act 1927 made general strikes illegal
54
outline Trade Union confidence as a reason for the 1926 General Strike
- by mid 1920s, the TUC's General Council advocated a strong industrial alliance to lead all TUC unions into sympathy strikes if a union member was attacked
- high TU membership + support - 5.5.m in 1925
- TUC was confident that the reversal of workers' wartime wage increases weren't inevitable
55
outline problems in the coal industry as a reason for the 1926 General Strike
- from the early 1920s, there were further wage cuts (10%) + unemployment in the coal industry - BUT, miners were optimistic as gov had previously prevented textile workers' wage cuts
- this was due to declining demand for British coal after WW1 as GB mines were outdated + old (+ less efficient + profitable)
56
outline Red Friday
- took place in July 1925
- was a cause of the 1926 General Strike - it subsequently broke down industrial relations
- coalmine owners tried to cut wages by 10% - miners objected + TUC asked railway men and transport workers agree to not move coal around in the event of a miners' strike
- gov intervened: 31st July 1925 announced a 9 month subsidy (bought time for gov to prepare for General Strike) to allow mine owners to maintain wages + gov set up a special commission (Samuel Commission) to make recommendations about the future coal industry
57
what was the effect of Red Friday 1925
- the success of RF encouraged hope among some trade unionists that state intervention to support industries wasn't far off
57
outline the breakdown of negotiations 1926
- with the gov subsidy due to run out in May 1926, mine owners began to issue notices for lower wages
- TUs were reluctant to prepare for conflict - they didn't want it + knew they couldn't win
- Thomas, chair of the TUC, believed the gov would pursue a peaceful solution to try to avoid strikes
- HOWEVER, PM Baldwin's gov stopped negotiations with TUC when print workers refused to print a Daily Mail paper labelling the miners as revoltionary
- although the TUC apologised, negotiations ended + a general strike was called to start in May 1926
58
outline the General Strike
- the TUC had no concrete plans on how to support miners, but when the strike was called on 4th May 1926, 1.5m workers were called out (in addition to 1m miners)
- a large scale 9 day general strike took place - workers from several industries went on strike in support of miners
- this industrial organisation + solidarity was impressive
- Bevin + the Strike Organising Committee distributed food + health services
58
outline the Government's response to the General Strike
- gov's 2 priorities were maintaining food supplies + essential services and preserving law + order - they were both highly organised
- over 300,000 volunteers were mobilised + relief was refused from strikers
- volunteers manned power stations, dockyards + transport networks - ensured food distribution + transport maintenance
- gov formed a reserve of policemen drawn from former soldiers - wisely prevented the use of armed forces
- there was no breakdown in order as the Gov had feared
- the gov only struggled to maintain the railways - it was difficult to move through the several disturbances
59
_ Cambridge University undergraduates operated the London Underground whilst another _ worked on docks
- 2,000 Cambridge University undergraduates operated the London Underground whilst another 500 worked on docks
60
outline the media in the General Strike 1926
- The British Gazette was published throughout he war as the Govs newspaper - was edited by Churchill
- it deliberately raised dear that the strike posed a revolutionary threat to constitutional gov
- additionally, the newly formed BBC refused to publish content damaging the gov - by avoiding a sympathetic tone for strikers, it avoided Gov take over
- the TUC's The British Worker had to reduce its publication to just 4 pages when Churchill limited its printing paper
- the limited use of violence or the army show the gov didn't believe a revolution was ever likely
61
why did the TUC eventually capitulate in the General Strike 1926
- the TUC called off the strike on the 12th May
- the TUC were eager for the strike not to escalate beyond an industrial dispute , so when people like Churchill alleged a revolution was unfolding, the General Council grew increasingly keen to cut a deal
- also, the memory of Black Friday (1921) made trade unionists pessimistic about victory
61
outline extent of support for the General Strike 1926
- nearly 1.75m workers came out in support of the 1m coal miners on strike - this was an immense triumph
- this credit is due to the influence of Bevin as leader of the TGWU
- there was a strong response in cities such as Leeds, yet there was also impressive response in rural areas, e.g. Torquay (Devon)
- despite this support, the organisation + extent of the strike was far from perfect
62
outline the Samuel Commission
- PM Baldwin set up this commission in July 1925 to provide a solution to the crisis in the coal industry
- Samuel, chair of the Coal Commission, offered to settle the coal dispute during the General Strike
- he proposed reorganisation of the coal industry + temporary wage cuts of 13.5% for a year
- 11th May 1926: the Samuel Proposal was rejected by both mine owners and miners union (MFGB)
63
what was the effect of the General Strike on workers
- when strikers returned to work after the general strike, there had been no progress made - many employers even made union membership a barrier to employment
- workers struggled to get their jobs back + wages were cut
- the TU movement became divided - many were angry at the lack of protection won by the TUC for workers involved in the strike
- membership declined from 5.2 to 4.4m
64
outline the Trade Disputes Act
- passed in 1927
- this act was passed by the gov to avoid future general strikes - it was made illegal for strikes to exert influence upon gov
65
what did the Gov do in the 9 month respite between Red Friday and the General Strike
- in contrast to the TUC, the gov used the 9 month respite (due to the subsidy) to effectively organised counter-strike measures overseen by the STC
- resources were stockpiled, local networks of volunteers were established
- the Organisation for the Maintenance of Supplies (OMS) both recruited middle + upper class volunteers to keep public services running in the event of a strike
- by Feb 1926, the gov was prepared to face a general strike + troops were deployed to sensitive areas
66
what did Trade Unions do in the 9 month respite between Red Friday and the General Strike
- the TUC was completely inactive within this period
- the unions temporarily refused to grant powers to the General Council to call an all-out strike + conduct negotiations
- there was a remaining lack of trust between the unions, especially after Black Friday
67
what prompted the TUC to call a general strike
- the OMS's posters looking for recruits sparked this conflict
- May 1st: TUC voted for a general strike in sympathy of miners to begin on May 3rd
- Baldwin, under pressure from Conservatives, was unable to back down + repeat embarrassment of Red Friday
- equally, the TUC couldn't back down and repeat Black Friday - the general strike became unavoidable
68
what does Red Clydeside refer to
- Clydeside was a Scottish region that had a significant amount of Trade Union activity due to the high numbers of munitions factories
- the area had a strong association with socialist politics as a Labour stronghold, and so was nicknamed 'Red Clydeside'
- events: Glasgow Rent Strikes 1915, 40 Hour Strike 1919
