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Mr Silverman - History > Trade Unions - to what extent was there a trade union revival 1919-21 in the aftermatch of WW1? > Flashcards

Trade Unions - to what extent was there a trade union revival 1919-21 in the aftermatch of WW1? Flashcards

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1
Q

Trade Unions were keen to retain…

A
  • the influence they had gained over government policy during the war
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2
Q

Union leaders were keen to maintain …. controlled industries, such as ….. rather than…

A
  • state
  • rail & coal
  • hand them back to private businesses
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3
Q

How did the govt & union views differ about keeping industries nationalised

A
  • The govt was keen to return industry to private ownership, with business owners wanting to restore profits
  • Whilst trade unions wished to maintain state controlled industries
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4
Q

During 1919-21, the government became increasingly ………. at dealing with industrial disputes

A

sophisticated

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5
Q

Who were the AEU

A
  • The AEU - Amalgamated Society of Engineers
  • formed in 1920
  • representing iron-founders, builders, carpenters and skilled engineering workers
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6
Q

What were the strengths of the AEU

A
  • members were all skilled craftsmen and could afford to pay 1 shilling a week —> AEU financially stable & able to fund strikes
  • employers were discouraged from getting into conflict with them
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7
Q

What was Black Friday

A
  • Failed strike - miners on strike hoping for support from the railway and transport unions
  • BUT, NTWF worried about the effects of the depression on their jobs
  • NUR agreed with the NTWF not to lend their support
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8
Q

Explain how Black Friday failed

A
  • By the end of 1921 - miners were forced by hunger to return to work
  • This failure to support each other led to the collapse of the Triple Alliance
  • This failed strike was nicknamed ‘Black Friday’.
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9
Q

What was the impact of Black Friday on trade unions

A
  • weakened the position of trade unions - threat of a united front was a myth
  • 1921-23 - distinct decline in industrial unrest 85.8m working days lost, compared to 10.7m - not complete failure
  • attitude - workers now no longer accepted the distribution of wealth and the social order
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10
Q

What was the impact of Black Friday for the government

A
  • Marked an end to govt involvement in pay and employment reforms, with the govt refusing to intervene for the rest of the 1920s
  • For the rest of the 1920s, the government refused to intervene
  • employers in all industries forced down wages - TU hopeless
  • confirms the govt, which imported cheap foreign coal during the strike, was equally determined to counter industrial efforts to secure greater influence
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11
Q

Why was the Council of Action set up

A
  • In response to the risk of GB entering a war against the newly-formed Soviet Russia, socialists in the trade unions and Labour party formed the Council of Action
  • To prevent Britain supporting Poland (who was fighting Russia), they prepared to hold strikes to disrupt British production
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12
Q

What threat did the Council of Action pose

A
  • govt feared they posed collectively a revolutionary threat
  • BUT these councils began to lose popular support by 1921 - the government concluded that they were unable to mount a serious general strike
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13
Q

The Council of Action provided an…

A
  • infrastructure for the coordination of future industrial conflict, remaining in place beyond 1921
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14
Q

When & why was the DoRA passed

A
  • Passed in 1914 in order to control communications, the nation’s ports and subject civilians to the rule of military courts
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15
Q

What were the ammendments of DoRA

A
  • It was amended six times during the course of the war, eventually being used for everything from banning narcotics to censoring the press.
  • key amendment allowed govt to seize factories and land to produce the huge amount of munitions and weapons that were needed to win the war
  • —> concentration of workers in urban areas, & need for women to enter the workforce in large numbers
  • —> resulting upheaval catalysed key social changes
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16
Q

What was the Emergency Powers Act

A
  • 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
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17
Q

Who were the MFGB

A

Miners Federation of Great Britain

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18
Q

Who were the NUR

A

The miners came out on strike hoping for support from the railway and transport unions. However, the miners were to be disappointed- the NTWF (transport union) members were more worried at the effects of the depression on their jobs, and the NUR (railway union) agreed with the NTWF not to lend their support

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19
Q

What was the Sankey Commission

A
  • The PM Lloyd George realised wages needed to be cut to make coal more competitive, yet also want to avoid industrial disputes
  • He had set up a Royal Commission under the leadership of Sankey, the Labour lawyer and judge to investigate the coal industry
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20
Q

How effective was the Sankey Commission

A
  • This removed the threat of strikes between 1919 and 1921, yet in 1921 the govt returned this industry to private owners - ignoring the recommendation of Sankey to keep it nationalised
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21
Q

Describe the establishment of the STC

A
  • Throughout 1919 the govt had built up an effective anti-strike apparatus & gained much experience of how to deal with strikes
  • Feb 1919 it appointed the Industrial Unrest Committee, later known as the Supply and Transport Committee - STC
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22
Q

What was the role of the STC

A
  • Eric Geddes, its leader, aimed to form a strikebreaking machine and advised the government on how best to respond to industrial unrest
  • it would make plans to recruit volunteers to replace striking labourers
  • as well as oversee the stockpiling of resources such as coal and oil
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23
Q

How effective was the STC

A
  • In 1921 the STC had proved to be very effective in preventing the coal Strike from causing aisruption
  • The STC would play a crucial role in the disturbances of 1926
24
Q

Who were the TGWU

A
  • From 1922, the TGWU (Transport & General Workers’ Union) replaced the NTWF as the leading transport union
  • Bevin acting as general secretary
  • represented 350,000 workers
  • covered a wide range of trades, from dock and road workers to clerical and administrative workers
25
Q

What was the Triple Alliance

A
  • Alliance of the 3 biggest unions, which controls everything the country needs, representing a serious force in British politics.
    In March, Thomas negotiated with the government to ensure railway wages would not be severely reduced and wartime bonus wages continued into peacetime.
    When the government refused to make the bonus a permanent settlement, Thomas called a strike in September 1919.
    The government panicked at the prospect of triple Alliance strike, deploying troops at major station in London.
    Yet the strike was not supported by the miners and transport workers - the miners had already won a 20% wage rise and seen their hours cut from eight to seven.
    . During 1921 pay for coal miners fell by 30% yet the cost of living actually increased.
    The miners came out on strike hoping for support from the railway and transport unions. However, the miners were to be disappointed- the NTWF (transport union) members were more worried at the effects of the depression on their jobs, and the NUR (railway union) agreed with the NTWF not to lend their support. 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, This failed strike was nicknamed ‘Black Friday’
26
Q

What is the evidence that the govt perceived the Triple Alliance as a threat

A
  • Alliance of the 3 biggest unions, which controls everything the country needs, representing a serious force in British politics.
  • In March 1919, Thomas negotiated with the govt to ensure railway wages would not be severely reduced & wartime bonus wages continued into peacetime
  • When the govt refused to make the bonus a permanent settlement, Thomas called a strike in September 1919
  • The govt panicked at the prospect of triple Alliance strike, deploying troops at major station in London
  • Yet the strike was not supported by the miners and transport workers - the miners had a 20% wage rise and seen their hours cut from 8 to 7
27
Q

Who were the TUC

A
  • Trade Unions Congress - paliament for all the trade unions
28
Q

Why did trade unionists wish for nationalisation of industry to continue

A
  • the railways operated more efficiently under government control than before
  • nationalisation during the war needed to maintain production levels - any profits earned from coal had been pooled and then divided to provide national wages for all coal miners
  • profits from both coal and rail going to the workers, rather than private individuals
29
Q

What were the key strengths of the govt 1919-21

A
  • ensured that strike action was perceived as illegimate by the public
  • orgnaisational capacity
  • resources - emergency powers act
30
Q

What were the key weaknesses of the govt 1919-21

A
  • less control
  • don’t want to take direct control & responsibility with privatisation
  • very little govt can do if unions get it bang on –> not guaranteed to come out on top
31
Q

What were the key strengths of the trade unions 1919-21

A
  • potential power over fuel supply, transport & entire ecnomy, from which they can gain influence over govt
  • influence over their workers, attracting more support
  • potential influence & dimension
  • becoming very organised
32
Q

What were the key weaknesses of the trade unions 1919-21

A
  • success correlates with war, will this be maintained?
  • disunity
  • workers are full-time
  • power weakened by privatisation
  • limited resources
33
Q

Name the Strengths of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

A
  • increased membership
  • greater influence over govt during WW1
  • improved leadership & organisation
  • development of a politial strategy within parliament to influence govenment
  • revolutionary aims
  • clear evidence of the govts fear
34
Q

Strengths of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

Increased membership

A
  • miners Federation of GB had over 750,000 members
  • means that if action was to be taken, it would have more support
  • & therefore have the potential to cause disruption & chaos, forcing a change to be made to restore order
35
Q

Strengths of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

Greater influence over govt

A
  • have more power over govt
  • what policies they have
  • during was govt had to nationalise much industry which brought unions in direct contact with govt
36
Q

Strengths of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

improved leadership & organisation

A
  • gives union movement clear focus to increase effectiveness of protests + strikes e.g shows how determined they are to cause
  • Manny Shinwell/ James Maxton
37
Q

Strengths of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

Developement of a _______________ to influence govt decisions

A
  • politial strategy within parliament
38
Q

Strengths of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

revolutionary aims

A
  • council of action
    *made of socialists in trade unions & labour party
39
Q

Strengths of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

govts fear of power of the unions

A
  • highlights they saw the potential for revolution in unionaction & thus felt threatened
  • emergency powers act
  • Royal Commission set up which removd set up ehich removed threat of strkes between 1919-21
40
Q

Weaknesses of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

government retained control throughout

A
  • STC = aim was to act as a strikebreaking machine
41
Q

Weaknesses of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

the triple alliance achieved relatively little

A
  • strike organised was not supported by miners & transport workers
  • triple alliance collapsed
42
Q

Weaknesses of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

Betweeb 1919-21, the govt severely increased its poweract as it saw fit in times of severe industrial unrest

A
  • emergency powers act - allowed govt to quickly pass emergency legislation to regulate militancy
  • govt had built up anti-srike aparatus & gained much experience on how to deal with strikes
43
Q

Weaknesses of the trade unions in posing a revolutionary threat

union aimswere not truly revolutionary

A
  • labour party - trying to get through the system
  • entirely within existing system
  • not talking about taking over power by force
44
Q

What are the 3 long-term causes of the general strike

A
  • government policy
  • the strategy of the trade unions
  • the actions of employers
45
Q

what is the wider economic context behind the general strike

A
  • 1921-5, British trade stagnated & unemployment hit 9 million
  • Situtation made worse by Gold Standard
  • This meant that the supply of money was now reinvested making economic expansion difficult
  • Less demand for coal from Britain post-war, less ecports & oil switches
  • Return of Rhur to Germany increases coal supply, people now go to Germany for coal
46
Q

Explain the long-term causes of the general strike
-govt policy

A
  • Govt return GB to the Gold Standard
  • Govt offer subsidy of £23 million to support miners wages, thus avoidingbthe need to cut wages - prevents the strike
  • give unions incentive to strike, & encouraging them from giving in
47
Q

Explain the long-term causes of the general strike
-the strategy of the trade unions

A
  • The TUC were confident that the reversal of workerswartime wage increases ws not inevitable
  • planning action
  • too confident?
  • should be cautious that govt cannot keep giving in
48
Q

Explain the long-term cuases of the general strike
-the action of employers

A
  • unemployment increased, wages fell, production fell
  • increasing working hours
49
Q

What were the problems in the coal industry

A
  • less demand for coal —> coal conflict 1925
  • countries no longer needed to import coal from Britain —> oldmines & inefficient production
  • overvalued pounds meant exports became too expensive
50
Q

Why was the Gold Standard reintroduced

A
  • British trade stagnated 1921-5
  • aimed to stabilise the value of the currency, avoid inflation & re-establish London as the dominant centre of Global finance
  • By the mid 1920s, the TUCs General Council were advocating a strong industrial alliance to lead all TUC unions into sympathy strikes if a member union was attacked. Trade union membership was 5.5 million in 1925 so the TUC was widely supported.
    The return to the Gold Standard (which had been used 1819 to
    1914) meant the government only printed money which was backed with equal reserves of national gold. This would reduce the likelihood of inflation.
51
Q

What evidence is there of trade union confidence

A
  • Despite facing a 10% cut in wages, miners were optimistic. In the summer 1925, the government had intervened to stop textile workers’ wages being cut
  • The TUC were confident that the reversal of workers’ wartime wage increases was not inevitable
52
Q

What was the consequence of the Gold Standard being re-introduced

A
  • Production fell, wages fell and unemployment increased
  • since the pound was now set to the value of $4.86, exports (including coal) became too expensive, which led to further wage cuts
53
Q

What does it mean by the gold standard being reintroduced

A
  • the government only printed money which was backed with equal reserves of national gold
  • this would reduce the likelihood of inflation
  • however, the supply of money was now restricted making economic expansion difficult
54
Q

What was Red Friday

A
  • In June 1925 the mine owners tried to abolish the 1924 wage agreement: profits on 87% of all coal sold would constitute miners’ wages
  • Yet when the French pulled out of the Ruhr and German coal competition returned, owners aimed to cut wages by 13% and increase daily hours from 7 to 8
  • Despite an attempt at compromise, the General Council ordered an embargo to halt coal imports in the event of a strike.
  • PM Baldwin backed down to prevent a strike, offering a 9-month government subsidy of £23m to support miners’ wages, thus avoiding the need to cut wages
  • This was agreed on July 315 1925 and became known as Red Friday - a reversal of the collapse in 1921 of Black Friday
55
Q

What was the implication of Red Friday for trade unionists

A
  • It also bought the government crucial time to organise for future militancy
  • This government subsidy encouraged hope among some trade unionists that socialism was near at hand, with the prospect of state intervention to support industries
56
Q

What was the implication of Red Friday for the right wing of politics

A
  • For those on the right wing of politics, Red Friday was a catastrophe - even Ramsay MacDonald believed it would encourage revolutionaries and discredit the growing legitimacy of the Labour Party which he le
57
Q

When was Red Friday

A

June 1925

Mr Silverman - History (30 decks)

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