TU 1919-1921 Flashcards
What happened to GBs economy in the 1920s?
Suffered with the economy struggling to recapture trade markets it had dominated in 1914.
Although French and Germans industrial regions were devstated by fighting ,GBs industry found itself uncompetitive due to higher wages and shorter hours won by trade unions during the war. Buisness owners sought to reverse these two factors.
Why did Thomas call a general strike Sep 1919?
Gov didnt want to make wartime bonuses for railway workers a permenant settlement
When did the gov re privatise the coal industry ?
1921
What happened to coal miners pay after it was nationalised in 1921?
Pay for coal miners fell 30% yet cost of living increased.
What did the gov do when Bevin called a general strike in 1919 and what happened?
Panicked at possibility of a Triple Allaince strike.
Yet strike not supported by miners and transport workers (miners had already seen a 20% wage increase)
Coal miners went on strike in 1921 - why did the triple alliance not support ?
NTWF(transport union) members were more worried about effects of depression of jobs.
NUR(rail union) agreed with NTWF not to lend support.
By end of 1921 miners forced to return to work - this failure of the triple alliance nicknamed black friday .
What was the imapct of black friday (1921)?
Indicated threat of united threat was a myth.
Marked an end to gov involvement in pay and employment reforms. For rest of 1920s gov refuses to intervene.
With lack of gov support and collpse of trip alliance , employers in all industries forced down wages. Trade unions could do little to prevent.
How many working days were lost to industrial disputes in 1921 compared to 1923 ?
85.8 m
10.7 m
(shows decline in industrial unrest )
What did the emergency powers act 1920 allow the gov to do ?
To declare a national state of emergency in times of severe industrial unrest and allow quick passing of emergency legislation to regulate militancy.
Which commitee did gov appoint in 1919 as part of it building up antri strike apparatus ?
Industrial unrest commitee - Later known as STC ( supply and transport commitee) under Eric Geddes
What did the STC do ?
Act as strike breaking machine and advise gov on how to respond to industrial unrest.
make plans to recruit volenteers to replace striking labourers
oversee the stockpiling of resources such as coal and oil.
In 1921 STC proved very effective in preventing coal industry causing disruption (crucial in 1926)
What did the gov do about coal during coal strike ?
Import cheap foreign coal.
What was the AEU and who did it represent ?
Algamated society of engineers. Formed 1920
Represented iron -founders, builders, carpenters and skilled engineering workers
What was the strength of the AEU ?
Memebrs were skilled crafstmen who coaul afford to pay 1 shilling a week. AEU therefore financially stable and could fund strikes - employers discouraged from getting into conflict with them.
When did the TGWU replace the NTWF as the leading transport union and how many workers did it represent ?
1922
350,000- covered a wide range of trades from dock and road workers to clerical and adminstrative workers.
