TUs 1915-1919 Flashcards
What is Red Clyside?
The nickname/reputation given to the era of political radicalism in Glagow Scotland and areas around the city, on banks from the 1910s to 1930s. In the context or Russian Rev.
Maxton and Red clyside first came to prominence when strikes there in August 1915 persuaded gov to abolish leaving certificates.
By 1919 Glagow was a centre of lab party support, securing 10 of the 15 seats. This group of MPs including Maxton and Shinwell form a united group in parliment to improve w/c conditions.
Where was the centre of industial unrest during the war ?
Glasgow and its ship yards along the river clyde.
How many ships did clyside produce for the royal navy during the war and what percentage of the armour plating for tanks did it produce ?
481 ships for the royal navy and provided 90% of the armour plating needed for tanks.
Who was the 1915 Glasgow rent strike led by ?
Womens housing Association
Protestors nicknamed ‘Mrs Barbours army’ a reference to one of the leaders Mary Barbour.
What is dilution and how did it cause significant anger amongst workers ?
The practice of using un skilled or semi skilled workers (incl women) for skilled tasks.
Use of 14,000 women in Clyde for example, caused strikes in May 1917
How many members of unions were there by 1919 compared to 1914 ?
1914- 4.2 mil
1919- 8 mil
Who were Manny shinwell and James Maxton ?
Members of the Independant Labour Party , elected in 1922 and key figures in Clyside
How many men died during WW1?
800,000 - sacrifice led w/c to believe they were entitled to better pay and working conditions.
What was the 40 h strike
1919
local general strike in Glasgow to campaign for a 40h (down from agreed 47 h) working week - strike commitee of Glagow thought that by reducing no of hours worked more jobs could be created for retured soldiers looking for work.
Not agreed by TUC
Strike also taken up in Belfast and unrest spread to London with underground workers striking too.
How did the authorities react to the 40 h strike ?
Authorities overact in Glasgow - convinced a socialist uprising taking place
Tanks and troops dispatched to the city - riot broke out in GEORGE SQUARE when police try to disperese protestors.
What was the significance of the 40 hour strike ?
Fears of revolution
Red flag raised in Glasgow (were 50,000 men were on strike)
Through these fears of socialist adgitation Trade Union influence increases with gov hoping that unions would control industrial unrest. Revolutionaries less easy to appease with negotiations.
In 1917 what did the gov grant to skilled workers in engineering and what happend as a result ?
A 12.5% bonus
Semi skilled workers and unskilled labourers went on strike.
The gov was forced to extent wartime bonus to all workers.
Which groups formed the triple alliance ?
Miners, Railwaymen, Transport workers
Which party was included in Asquiths 1915 coalition and what impact did this have on TUS ?
Labour
strengthens TU voice in gov
What was the munitions of war act 1915 ?
Placed constraints on workers freedoms. Gave gov the power to regulate wages, hours and employment conditions. In addition the gov could now prevent skilled workers moving into unskilled, yet better paid , engineering work by insisting they had a leaving certificate from previous employer. This gave employers huge power over workers ; they could treat them badly and had control over their future job prospects.
