Trade Union Militancy 1915-27

Question 1

What were the trade unions and when did their influence rise?

Answer 1

Organisations seeking to unite workers and move towards improved working conditions

Influence rose during ww1 and increased 1914-19 due to economic challenges of war leading to gov nationalising industry

Question 2

How many TU members in 1914 compared to 1919?

Answer 2

1914 189,000

1919 8,081,000

Question 3

How much did industrial decrease in percentages in 1915?

Answer 3

Mining -21.8%
Iron and steel -18.8%
Engineering -29.5%
Shop building -16.5%

Question 4

Why were coal miners at this time demanding 20% higher wages?

Answer 4

Worsened living conditions

Increased cost of living, rent, food and industrial products

Question 5

Who was Bevin?

Answer 5

TU official for dockers union and national transport workers federation (NTWF)

Realised transport union had to work with coal and railways to win aims of higher wages and improved conditions (NUR)

Question 6

Who was Thomas?

Answer 6

National union of railwaymen
Derby MP oversaw 1911 rail strike

Worked with Lloyd George within gov to secure improved pay and conditions for workers

Worked for TUC 1921-9

Question 7

What was the triple alliance?

Answer 7

Promoted by Bevin and Thomas at start of war

United miners federation, NTWF and NUR to exert greater influence on gov-more effective strike action

Question 8

What was the munitions of war act?

Answer 8

1915

Powers to regulate wages, hours and employment conditions

Question 9

What was dilution?

Answer 9

Use of semi skilled or unskilled labour for skilled work-caused anger among TU as undermined position of privilege of skilled workers

Question 10

Who was Shinwell?

Answer 10

Glasgow TUC

Prominent in clydeside-national dock strikes

Militant

Labour MP 1922

Question 11

Who was Maxton?

Answer 11

Involved in Clydeside

Part of Clyde workers committee-campaign against munitions act

Question 12

When was the Glasgow rent strike and what happened?

Answer 12

1915
Strikes by Clydeside engineers for pay rise
Anger at increased food prices and due to increased influx of men in city for war production-rents increased
Caused rent strikes in Glasgow-starting with women’s housing association

Question 13

What did the gov pass in response to Glasgow rent strike?

Answer 13

Rents and mortgage interest restriction act

Limited rent and mortgage rates at levels before war

Huge triumph for TU-through use of militant protest in area vital to war production

Question 14

When was the 40 hour strike and what happened?

Answer 14

1919
Local general strike throughout Glasgow protesting for 40-hour week
Surplus of jobs post war-to resolve unemployment hours reduced to allow more shifts for more people-unpopular with gov and employers
Tanks dispatched in some areas-Glasgow
Red flag raised to mark revolution

Question 15

What was the impact of 40 hour strike?

Answer 15

1919 first political strike
TU realised potential for militant protest to influence gov policy
London tube striked

Question 16

What was red Clydeside?

Answer 16

Rise of perception of fears of social revolution
Increased TU influence
Churchill remarked TU as effective device for preventing post war unemployment and wage reductions from reacHing point or revolution of

Benefitted unions-fear of rev-gov hoped TU would control industrial unrest-TU could be appeased with negotiations

Question 17

Was there a TU revival 1919-21?

Answer 17

Change during wartime with rail and coal nationalised-TU hoped there would be not return to ore war position where industry run for profits of business owners

Business owners wanted to restore profits causing conflicts between TU and gov who were more readily equipped to deal with industrial disputes in 1921 than 1919

Question 18

How did the GB industry become uncompetitive and what did the gov do to fix this?

Answer 18

Post war increased determination of employers and gov to return to competitive system
Increased pay and reduced hours due to war improvements made by gov GB uncompetitive compared to Germany and France

So working hours reduced and wages reduced due to post war recessions and industries returned to private ownership

Question 19

When was nationalisation introduced and what was it?

Answer 19

1917
National regulation of wages to promote national wages for all coal miners

However Lloyd G realised wages had to be reduced due to increase GB competition for coal in foreign markets-but wanted to avoid strikes so set up Royal Commission to determine whether it should remain nationalised

Question 20

When did coal industry become denationalised?

Answer 20

1921 coal industry returned to individual owners

Within days owners announced cuts to increase competitiveness

Wages reduced 30% and cost of living increased

Miners went on strike hoping for railway and transport union support

Question 21

What was the impact of Black Friday and when was it?

Answer 21

1921
Miners wanted to keep wartime bonus campaign against denationalisation

Leaders or transport and railway unions ordered workers not to strike in sympathy with miners

Failure of strike and lack of NUR and NTWF support caused TRiple alliance to collapse-unable to cooperate without support miners failed

Question 22

What was the emergency powers act and what did it replace?

Answer 22

Replaced defence of realm act which regulated industrial powers

EPA allowed gov to declare a national state of emergency in times of severe industrial unrest
Allowing provisions for maintaining supplies and power to civil service to regulate military

Question 23

What did the gov appoint to deal with strikes and what did it do?

Answer 23

Industrial unrest committee

Not needed in 1919 as TA failed to work effectively

Recruited volunteers to replace strikers and tried to avoid army use avoid rev

Cooperation between gov and businesses to stockpile resources coal and oil

Question 24

How did the strike committee work before 1921 Black Friday?

Answer 24

Reacted quickly to prevent miners strike from causing disruption-halted coal export, troops on alert, called state of emergency

Military intervention not needed gov well prepared
STC prevented strike from expanding to railways and transportation

Undermining TU action

Question 25

When was the general council of TUC formed and why?

Answer 25

1920 To counter gov and employers attack on wages and hours Tried to win trust of major unions eg NUR and TGWU (new transport union)

Question 26

Who were the AEU?

Answer 26

In 1920 the amalgamated society of engineers became AEU AEU expanded version of ASE absorbing local and regional unions for skilled engineering workers

Question 27

Who were the council of action?

Answer 27

Formed in response to GB entering war with USSR 1920 by Labour and TU CoA coordinated opposition to any attempt by GB to go to aid Poland ms war effort Lost support by 1921 due to diminished chance of winning war wi Russia CoA remained after 1921 performing propaganda role in labour movement councils providing infrastructure for coordinating future industrial conflict 1921-gov well equipped for TU militancy

Question 28

What were the reasons for the general strike?

Answer 28

Long term causes - change in industrial relations brought about by ww1 - fall in production and coal price - rising TU discontent after embarrassment of Black Friday - owners of mines to maintain profits by cutting wages and raising hours - 1925 return to gold standard and overvalued strength of the pound-creating deflation and increased unemployment and reduced wages-constrained the economy

Question 29

What was return of gold standard and when did it happen?

Answer 29

1925 Currency returned to value directly linked to gold Caused deflation and increased unemployment reducing wages and constrained the economy Miners wages reduced by 10% to keep competitive

Question 30

What was the effect of reduced wages on British competitiveness?

Answer 30

Did not increase it | Reduced home demand for products and domestic spending increased unemployment further

Question 31

What was red Friday?

Answer 31

Result of general strike caused breakdown of relations between TU, employees and gov June 1925 coal mine owners attempted to abolish 1924 minimum wage agreement General council of TUC halted coal imports in support of coal strike Gov granted substitute for coal wages-triumph for TU almost reversal of failure of Black Friday Reflected bad on PM Baldwin who was worried agitation would discredit Labour Party rep and responsible political organisation

Question 32

What was the breakdown of negotiations 1926?

Answer 32

Red Friday short time solution Gov used this respite to organise counter strike measures administered by STC Effective anti strike action in place By 1926 ready for industrial militancy Baldwin and cons tried to get owners and unions to compromise but miners refused wage reductions and locked miners out causing general strike organisation

Question 33

How did gov respond to general strike?

Answer 33

Baldwin wanted to resolve peacefully but pushed towards tougher action by Churchill 3rd may volunteers sent out to take on jobs of strikers to maintain food and supplies Support by London Underground ensured good food distribution and transport maintained -increased tensions in classes MC and UC undermining WC strike Formed civil constabulary reserve-prevent widespread use of army Food and supplies kept running-no breakdown in order

Question 34

How was the media involved in the general strike?

Answer 34

Churchill as editor of British gazette and published throughout strike to inform public that gov was in strong position and disruption minimal TUC propaganda restrained preventing bbc form broadcasting sympathy Limited armed force demonstrated Baldwin gov never threatened by possible civil war Cons press tried to encourage fear that rev was likely and painted Baldwin as not believing in rev

Question 35

What was the extent of the general strike?

Answer 35

1.5-1.75 million workers came to support 1 million coal miners already locked out TUC prepared poorly only made arrangements late April but success in support 10 power stations cut electricity in London But many remained TU Strike committee only had symbolic control over movement many workers known as ‘black legs’ went on strike but continued working Strike not effective as leaders would have liken but did have some support so cannot be blamed singly for failure

Question 36

Why did the strike get cut short and who by?

Answer 36

The TUC called off strike 12 May Seen as betrayal to workers-Thomas wanted to end strike before it got out of hand-did not want it to escalate beyond industrial dispute-so when Churchill spoke of revolution unfolding the general council were keen to cut deal -memory of Black Friday caused TUC to be pessimistic that victory was impossible TU leadership seemed autocratic Tried to make negotiations for reorganisation of wages and hours but miners rejected. Bevin tried to make sure miners would not be victimised but no agreement made

Question 37

What was the trades dispute act and when was it passed?

Answer 37

1927 Regulate strike action restraining trade unions and their association to the central TUC Act made it illegal for a general strike to be called if it’s specified that if a strike was called to exert influence on the gov it was illegal Impact limited

Question 38

What happened to strikers after the general strike?

Answer 38

Returned to work-achieved nothing Employers tried to ensure strikers could never repeat response of 1926 many attempted to make a union membership. Barrier to employment Many strikers struggled to get jobs back Many wages cut

Question 39

What happened to TU movement after 1926 general strike?

Answer 39

Divided by allegations of betrayal of TUC as they failed to protect members from pay strike victimisation Decline in membership 5,200,000 to 4,400,000

Question 40

When was triple alliance formed?

Answer 40

1915

Question 41

What day did general strike begin and when did it end?

Answer 41

Start 3 may 1926 End 12 may 1926

Question 42

When was trade union council established?

Answer 42

1919