Trade Unions - Why did the General Strike fail to influence the Conservative Government

Question 1

What are the 6 reasons why the General Strike failed

Answer 1

• strength of the govt response
• failure of the TCU leadership
• lack of public support
• unsympathetic media
• miners union
• a threat?

Question 2

Is the media the reason the general strike failed?
-Government newspaper

Answer 2

• The British Gazette was published throughout the strike as the government’s newspaper - it was edited by Churchill
• It did deliberately raise fears that the strike posed a revolutionary threat to constitutional government by unelected trade unionists

Question 3

Is the media the reason the general strike failed?
-BBC

Answer 3

• The newly formed BBC refused to publish content that damaged the government —>
• avoiding a sympathetic tone to the strikers, perhaps to avoid Churchill’s call for it to be taken over by the government

Question 4

Is the media the reason the general strike failed?
-TUC’s own media

Answer 4

• The TUC’s newspaper - the British Worker - had to reduce its publication to just four pages when Churchill requisitioned its printing paper.

Question 5

What are the key points of the TUC’s weaknesses

Answer 5

• Lack of Commitment and unity
• Didn’t ever believe it would succeed
• Divisions existed since Black Friday
• It should never have allowed the strike to begin
• Once it started, the General Council shouldn’t have given in so easily
• Poor organisation
• Failure to prepare adequately (despite there being plenty of time)
• Scope
• technically not a General Strike -, only industrial workers, many rural areas unaffected i.e. there was a limit to the scope of any TUC action.

Question 6

What were the strengths of the TCU’s action
-how widespread it was?

Answer 6

• Bevin’s influence in charge of the Strike Organisation Committee
• There was a strong response to the strike in cities such as Bradford and Leeds, yet there was also an impressive response in more rural areas, e.g. in Torquay (Devon).

Question 7

Is the TCU’s failed leadership the reason for failure
-who did the union movement blame

Answer 7

• Many in the union movement blamed the TUC not the government:
• The Miners’ view:
• a sudden capitulation
• a betrayal
• a loss of nerve

Question 8

Is the TCU’s failed leadership the reason for failure
-missed opportunity?

Answer 8

• Crucially, perhaps, an opportunity missed - gave up quickly and easily which raised the question, again, as to why they allowed the strike to commence
• could it have been more productive had they maintained the strike for longer?
• At least in securing some concessions?

Question 9

What were the strengths of the TCU’s action
-arguably the scale?

Answer 9

Yet during the nine days of industrial militancy (3-12 May 1926),
Especially in the early days - 2.5 million workers on strike on 4th may (1 million miners, 1.5 million others) - all transport workers, printers, iron and steelworkers, gas and electricity workers —> In many ways this is a triumph

Question 10

What were the strengths of the TCU’s action
-solidarity

Answer 10

• Solidarity sustained for most of the strike, there were very few workers who broke the strike - even with the supposedly less committed railwaymen,
• 98% stayed on strike until it was called off
• This could only have been achieved with effective organisation- Bevin and his Strike Organisation Committee oversaw the distribution of food and health services.
• Outside of the largest cities local committees were chaotic but still effective to a degree.

Question 11

Is the TCU’s failed leadership the reason for failure
-how well was the strike organised

Answer 11

• The organisation and extent of the strike was far from perfect
• Bevin’s Strike Organisation Committees were effective in London but less so elsewhere, and in local areas chaos reigned
• scope of the strike was also limited - Many London power stations remained in operation, whilst many workers refused to strike
• Merseyside, 25 out of the 92 ships in port left during the strike, + 50 new arrivals.

Question 12

Is the TCU’s failed leadership the reason for failure
-What action did the TUC take in the 9 months rest bite after Red Friday

Answer 12

• In contrast to the Government, The TUC however was completely inactive - only began detailed planning for a strike less than a week, partly due to continued disagreement amongst unions about whether to strike or negotiate
• Distrust between the unions still existed since Black Friday
• Some historians assert that many on the General Council never believed it could succeed in securing higher wages for the miners

Question 13

When did the TUC call off the strike

Answer 13

• 12 May

Question 14

TCU’s failed leadership reason for failure? -TCU’s capitulation

How did its leadership lead to the General Strike’s capitulation

Answer 14

• Figures such as Arthur Cook of the MFGB blamed James Thomas and the leaders of the TUC for never fully supporting militancy
• The TUC’s leadership were certainly not willing for the protest not to escalate beyond an industrial dispute, so when hardliners such as Churchill alleged that a revolution was unfolding, the General Council of the TUC grew increasingly keen to cut a deal

Question 15

TCU’s failed leadership reason for failure? -TCU’s capitulation

At what opportunity did the CDU seize the chance to withdraw

Answer 15

• The TUC therefore seized the chance to withdraw when Herbert Samuel, chair of the Coal Commission, proposed that the coal industry be reorganised and miners’ wages be cut for a year
• The mines rejected this, and the TUC suggested a wage reduction after reorganisation
• The MFGB rejected this but the following day, on 12 May the General Council of the TUC met Baldwin to announce the end of the strike -a betrayal?.
• Bevin failed in his attempt to get Baldwin to promise no workers would be victimsied for striking

Question 16

TCU’s failed leadership reason for failure? -TCU’s capitulation

What did the General Council of the CDU do on the 12th May

Answer 16

• The MFGB rejected this but the following day, on 12 May the General Council of the TUC met Baldwin to announce the end of the strike -a betrayal?.
• Bevin failed in his attempt to get Baldwin to promise no workers would be victimsied for striking

Question 17

TCU’s failed leadership reason for failure? -TCU’s capitulation

Why did the TUC’s lack of belief ensure the failure of the strike, regardless of govt action

Answer 17

• While workers had supported the strike, and the government had organised an effective response, it seems the TUC never believed wages could be protected.
• Despite miners refusing the Samuel Memorandum, it’s unlike Baldwin would have been able to support this compromise anyway - after Red Friday the government could not be seen to sustain wages, particularly in the context of their recent success in resisting the strikers.

Question 18

Was the government’s antistrike action responsible for its failure

How was the government’s preparation useful

Answer 18

• The government used the 9 month respite after Red Friday to effectively organise counter-strike measures overseen by the STC:
• Resources were stockpiled and local networks of volunteers were established
• The Economic League, and the Organisation for the Maintenance of Supplies (OMS) both recruited middle and upper class volunteers to keep public services running in the event of a strike.
• By February 1926 the government believed it was ready to face a general strike, and troops were deployed to sensitive areas

Question 19

Was the government’s antistrike action responsible for its failure

What was the government’s priorities for responding to the General Strike

Answer 19

(i) maintaining food supplies and essential services
(ii) preserving law and order.
In both areas, it was highly organised.

Question 20

Was the government’s antistrike action responsible for its failure

How did the govt maintain food supplies

Answer 20

• Volunteers were mobilised on May 3rd, govt recruited over 300,000 volunteers but few were ever needed
• manned power stations, dockyards and transport- this ensured good food distribution and transport maintenance.
• local authorities kept food and coal supplies flowing, particularly in Liverpool which was responsible for 1/5 of the nation’s imports.
• London Underground was even operated by 2000 Cambridge University undergraduates

Question 21

Was the government’s antistrike action responsible for its failure

How did the govt ensure law & order

Answer 21

• The government formed a body of reserve policemen drawn from former soldiers & members of the Territorial Army, thus wisely preventing the use of armed forces
• There was no breakdown in order as the government had feared
• The limited violence and use of the army show that the government did not believe a revolution was ever likely

Question 22

Was the government’s antistrike action responsible for its failure

The govt also successfully & effectively controlled the ……

Answer 22

media - British Gazette was published throughout the strike as the government’s newspaper - it was edited by Churchill.
It did deliberately raise fears that the strike posed a revolutionary threat to constitutional government by unelected trade unionists.
The newly formed BBC refused to publish content that damaged the government - avoiding a sympathetic tone to the strikers, perhaps to avoid Churchill’s call for it to be taken over by the government.
The TUC’s newspaper - the British Worker - had to reduce its publication to just four pages when Churchill requisitioned its printing paper

Question 23

Was the government’s antistrike action responsible for its failure

What is evidence of the government’s consistent preparation

Answer 23

The govt had also prepared before Red Friday too - Supply and Transport Committee (STC) set up in 1919 emergency powers act 1920

Question 24

Was the government’s antistrike action responsible for its failure

What are the limitations to the government’s effectiveness

Answer 24

• Use of volunteers especially middle-class and Cambridge undergraduates did increase tension in some areas
• Whilst law and order was maintained, there were several disturbances in Plymouth and London, and some violence around a few coalfields
• In Glasgow miners clashed with police
• The one area which the government struggled to maintain were the railways - it was difficult to move freight throughout the strike

Question 25

Aftermath & consequences of the strike

What was the consequence of the failed general strike for workers in Glasgow

Answer 25

• In Glasgow, 368 of 5000 tramway workers were suspended; many workers struggled to get their old jobs back, while wages were often cut

Question 26

Aftermath & consequences of the strike

When strikers returned to work, what became apparent

Answer 26

• When strikers returned to work, it was clear that their leaders had achieved nothing and had presided over a catastrophe
• Many employers even made union membership a barrier to employment

Question 27

Aftermath & consequences of the strike

What was the consequence of the failed general strike for workers in Yorkshire

Answer 27

• In Yorkshire, miners were forced to accept 7 &1/2 hour days (up from 7), and in South Wales and the North East, miners’ wages were cut
• The coal miners remained locked out until Nov 1926, and were forced back into work by hunger

Question 28

Aftermath & consequences of the strike

What was the consequence for the trade union movement after

Answer 28

• The trade union movement became deeply divided - many were angry at the lack of protection won by the TUC for those workers involved in the strike, and membership declined from 5.2 to 4.4m
• The unions acknowledged that capitalism was not at an end and worked to improve relations with employers
• The government took action to avoid future general strikes by passing the Trade Disputes Act,
• 1927 - in particular, it was made illegal for strikes to exert influence upon the government

Question 29

Conclusion

• Arguably the General Strike was no more than an……
• Most trade unionists worked hard to show that militancy was about a ……., and stressed this was not a…….
• The General Strike did settle one important question: who really ruled the nation…

Answer 29

• Arguably the General Strike was no more than an industrial dispute over the wages of coal miners
• Most trade unionists worked hard to show that militancy was about a specific grievance, and stressed this was not a political revolution
• The General Strike did settle one important question: who really ruled the nation - parliament, not the trade unions

Question 30

Conclusion

What proves the political system was never in danger

Answer 30

• The government did not need to call upon military forces, and the response of the middle and upper classes meant that the political system was never in danger

Question 31

How can it be argued that the Miner’s union are responsible for the failed strike

Answer 31

• The miners’ union (MFGB) rejected the Samuel Commission
• disorganised - Divisions existed between the miners union and the TUC as to what a reasonable compromise entailed

Question 32

How can it be argued that the lack of public support was responsible for the failed strike
-the govt had support from key groups

Answer 32

• Govt had middle and upper class volunteers to keep public services running in the event of a strike - 300,000 in total & 2000 Cambridge University undergraduates

Question 33

How can it be argued that the lack of public support was responsible for the failed strike
-even its leadership didn’t fully support

Answer 33

• the leaders of the TUC for never fully supporting militancy
• TUC’s leadership were certainly not willing for the protest not to escalate beyond an industrial dispute,
• so when hardliners such as Churchill alleged that a revolution was unfolding,
• the General Council of the TUC grew increasingly keen to cut a deal

Question 34

What evidence of support for the strike is there

Answer 34

• During the nine days of industrial militancy nearly 1.75m workers came out in support of the one million coal miners who had been locked out by their employers - this was an immense triumph.
• Most of these workers were in transport, power stations, printing, iron & steel industries. Much of this credit is due to Bevin’s influence as leader of the TGWU.
• There was a strong response to the strike in cities such as Bradford and Leeds, yet there was also an impressive response in more rural areas, e.g. in Torquay (Devon).

Question 35

Why was it often assumed that the General Strike failed due to the chaotic and sporadic support which the TUC secured.

Answer 35

• The TUC had no concrete plans on how to support the miners should a strike be necessary Despite this, they still managed to call out over 1.5 millions workers - in addition to the 1 million miners.
• What occurred was therefore a large-scale nine-day general strike in which workers in many trades across Britain went on strike in support of the miners.
• This solidarity among workers in other industries was impressive
• Ernest Bevin and the Strike Organising Committee took charge of the distribution of food and maintenance of health services
• There was a huge variance in the effectiveness of local strike committees

Question 36

How can it be argued that the lack of public support was responsible for the failed strike
=what evidence is there of support being inadequate

Answer 36

• Many London power stations remained in operation, whilst many workers refused to strike - they were termed blacklegs
• On Merseyside, 25 out of the 92 ships in port had left during the striking period, with 50 new arrivals
• The British Gazette raised fears that the strike posed a revolutionary threat to constitutional government by unelected trade unionistst —> detracted from public support

Question 37

Summarise the extent of the threat that the unions posed

Answer 37

• The government’s key aims were achieved - the strike did not last long and had no lasting
• impact.
• There was no serious threat of revolution - the government was not close to needing to call upon military forces, and the response of the middle and upper classes meant that the political system was never in danger

Question 38

How was the govt strengthened following the General strike proving the insignificance of the threat posed

Answer 38

• Government was strengthened
• This was extended by The Trade Disputes Act 1927 which was passed to restrict future strikes:
• general and sympathetic strikes were made illegal
• strike action was restricted to specific disputes
• banned the use of union funds for political purposes (e.g. the Labour Party) unless individual members chose to contribute by ‘contracting in’

Question 39

Summarise the extent of the threat that the unions posed

Answer 39

• Unions were weakened - when strikers returned to work, it was clear that their leaders had achieved nothing and had presided over a catastrophe.
• Furthermore, the decline was consistent with a decline from 1921-26 before the General Strike suggesting it was not a result of this.
• Most trade unionists worked hard to show that militancy was about a specific grievance, and stressed the General Strike not a political revolution.
• They preferred a more pragmatic and less confrontational approach which was welcomed by employers who (of course) preferred good relations with their workforce.
• The trade union movement became deeply divided