Trade Unions - Why was there a General Strike in 1926? Flashcards
General Strike Timeline
What happened in June 1925
- Coal mine owners move to cut miners wages
General Strike Timeline
What happened on the 31st July
The ‘Red Friday’ government subsidy granted to support coal miners’ wages
General Strike Timeline
What happened in March 1926
- Samuel Commissions report rejected by miners & mine owners
General Strike Timeline
What happened on April 29th 1926
- Mine owners lock out miners for refusing wage cuts
General Strike Timeline
What happened on 1st May 1926
TUC votes for a general strike in support of the miners
General Strike Timeline
What happened May 3rd 1926
General Strike begins at 23.59
General Strike Timeline
What happened on 11th May 1926
Samuel Memorandum’ rejected
General Strike Timeline
What happened on 12th May 1926
TUC calls off General Strike
Between 1921 and 1926, trade union militancy …….. following the collapse of the ………
- declined
- Triple Alliance
- However, throughout 1925, tensions in the coal-mining industry meant that …..
- This time, however, the ………………… were determined to avoid a repeat of Black Friday.
- By the spring of 1926, an all-out …… was called by the …….
- Yet this militancy completely ……… to influence the government.
- However, throughout 1925, tensions in the coal-mining industry meant that the industry was once again in confrontation with the government
- This time, however, the railway and transport unions were determined to avoid a repeat of Black Friday.
- By the spring of 1926, an all-out strike was called by the central TUC
- Yet this militancy completely failed to influence the government.
What are the 6 reasons why there was a General Strike in 1926
- Economic Depression - return of Gold Standard
- TUC desire to reassert control
- Government Policy
- Problems in coal industry
- Miner’s Union
- Mine-owners determination to maintain profits
How can it be argued that the mineowners are responsible for the general strike
- Determination to maintain profits —>
- arguably responsible for the falling wages and subsequent industrial strife,
- all of which could have been avoided had they invested in developing the mines and modernising production techniques so as to be able to compete with productivity in other countries
- (NB - this still supports the view that miners were key, but suggests any ‘blame’ should not lie with the unions)
Miner’s Union was responsible for the General Strike?
Powerful - significance within the workforce
- Miners were a significant part of the workforce -
- over a million in total, over 10% of the entire male workforce were miners
- Historically comparatively well paid (reflecting unpleasant / dangerous)
Miner’s Union was responsible for the General Strike?
How long had miners been upset for
- Miners’ discontent had been building up over several years -
- Miners’ union (MFGB) threatens strikes during WW1 over employment of non-unionised miners whilst union members were tunnelling on the Western Front,
- threats again in 1919 over pay and hours and the Sankey Commission and the betrayal of Lloyd George over denationalisation
Miner’s Union was responsible for the General Strike?
Describe how declining wages and rising incentivised a strike
- 1920s saw declining wages and rising unemployment -
- this was connected to falling demand for coal (which started during the war when countries had to find other sources for good previously supplied from Britain)
- Also the result of old and outdated mines which lowered productivity thereby increasing price of coal unless mine-owners cut wages
Miner’s Union was responsible for the General Strike?
How did Black Friday grow the workers resentment
- miners went on strike for higher wages in March 1920 and the Triple Alliance ensured they were joined by railwaymen and transport workers.
- govt agreed to a six-month wage increase —> postponed the dispute
- When the mines were returned to private hands wages were lowered again and strikes returned.
- Black Friday = leaders of the NUR (JH Thomas) and NTWF (Robert Williams) called off their strikes in support,
- leaving miners to fight alone for 10 weeks until hunger forced them back to work on lower wages
Miner’s Union was responsible for the General Strike?
What happened in June-July 1925 to aggravate the miners further
- June 1925 miners wages cut 10%, sparking TUC action
- 31 July = ‘Red Friday’ Baldwin agreed a temporary subsidy (similar to 1921, gives Government time to prepare)
- and an investigation: the Samuel Commission
Miner’s Union was responsible for the General Strike?
How did the General strike summount on 1 May to 3rd
- 1 May new pay notices are released
- TUC backs miners,
- although some union leaders reluctant to strike (Thomas / NUR), they do strike
- Strike begins on 3rd May
Miner’s Union was responsible for the General Strike?
Divisions existed between the miners union and the TUC as to…
Divisions existed between the miners union and the TUC as to what a reasonable compromise entailed
Miner’s Union was responsible for the General Strike?
What was included in the Samuel Commission, March 1926
- Recommendations published in March 1926:
- (i) reorganise coal industry (amalgamate small mines)
- (ii) end government subsidy
- (iii) same hours but lower pay
- (iv) maintain national wage agreements (this one was a concession to the unions against the owners who wanted local agreements which could divide the unions)
How can it be argued that the Economic Depression - return of Gold Standard is why there was a general strike in 1926
- Partly economic policy - return to the Gold Standard (Churchill) to stabilise the economy, lower debt, stop inflation and boost finance in London
- Prices fell —> lower wages —> increased unemployment
- all worsened by the strong pound—>huge fall in exports
Whose responsibility does the changing economic policy come under
- the government
What evidence is there, besides economic policy, that the government were responsible for the general strike
-Industrial relations CHANGING
- WW1 - Changing industrial relations also brought about by the war
- Strong evidence that the Govt was keen to exploit any opportunity to reduce union power
- 1921 - temporary pay increase allowed them to pass the Emergency Powers Act which enhanced their prospects of putting down strikes
What evidence is there, besides economic policy, that the government were responsible for the general strike
-Industrial relations - preparation for strike
- Similarly in 1926, the Samuel Commission bought Baldwin time to stockpile resources such as coal and make links with haulage companies to enable continued transportation in the event of a strike.
What evidence is there, besides economic policy, that the government were responsible for the general strike
-Industrial relations - THE GOVT PROVOKED IT?
- Maybe Baldwin tried to avoid provoking violence and kept Winston Churchill, the most aggressive member of the Cabinet, out of the day-to-day running of the dispute by putting him in charge of the British Gazette
- BUT it did propose the unions has a revoltionary threat - some in govt wanted showdown with unions, deliberately provoked?
What evidence is there, besides economic policy, that the government were responsible for the general strike
-stopping talks
- The Government chose to break off talks with the TUC - citing interference with the press as a justification,
- but did this really threaten them sufficently? not revolutionary
TUC desire to reassert control is why there was a general strike in 1926
- After Black Friday, the TUC formed
…a General Council to resolve inter-union disputes, which gave it the potential to coordinate strike action
TUC desire to reassert control is why there was a general strike in 1926
The General Council leaders (e.g. Walter Citrine) were crucial in…
- ensuring support for the miners
TUC desire to reassert control is why there was a general strike in 1926
- The strike was actually provoked partly by….
- printworkers at the Daily Mail refused to set up anti-union editorial on
How can it be argued that problems in the coal industry is why there was a general strike in 1926
- Connected to falling demand for British goods
- as former trade partners had found cheaper sources for produce when British exports fell between 1914-18
- More rivals for exports from other countries - USA, Poland and Germany(FROM 1924)
- Link to government policy too (Gold Standard)
