The General Strike

Causes

During World War One Britain’s industry boomed due to Government contracts and many jobs were created, the Government took control of (nationalised) key industries like mining to support the war effort. The Trade Unions wanted the Government to keep ownership so that the Government would invest money and secure jobs. However, the Government quickly returned mines to their owners. After the war the demand for coal fell and so owners brought in cost cutting measures like closing inefficient mines and replacing workers with machinery. Foreign competition, particularly from Germany with better technology put the industry in further failure. Unions wanted the mines re-nationalised to protect jobs.

Development

On the 25th April 1921 mine owners announced there would be longer hours and lower wages. The miners decided to strike and were supported by the other industries in the Trade Union Congress (TUC) who called their workers out in solidarity. The railways and doctor’s unions decided not to strike as they were not worried for their own jobs. The miners returned to work. This became known as Black Friday.

In 1925 the price of coal fell again and hours and pay were again changed, the Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin was worried that the workers would begin a revolution. On Friday 31st July 1925, the Government agreed to subsidise the coal industry and set up the Samuels Commission, this was to reach an agreement between workers and miners. This day became known as Red Friday. Some believed Baldwin was deliberately delaying the strike but the workers were happy. The subsidy ran out on 1st May 1926 (a day of celebration for workers) and so workers decided to strike. On 3rd May 1926 Britain’s only general strike began, ships sat unloaded, trains didn’t move and the country was divided.

The Government were prepared for this and used the Emergency Powers Acts from WW1 to allow the army to take over striking industries. 226,000 middle class students volunteered to take a break to work in heavy industries. The Government produced a newspaper, edited by Winston Churchill to turn the public against the strikers called the British Gazette. Baldwin referred to the strike as a revolution scaring many, the army and police were sent to deal with violent clashes between strikers and government supporters.

The Unions produced their own newspaper The British Worker to explain their grievances and encourage strikers to remain peaceful. Some strikes did become violent. Funds were set up to help feed the strikers and their families.

On 12th May the strike ended and the TUC decided to negotiate with the Government and accept the findings of the Samuel Commission. The Miners Union refused to take part. The government had been preparing for the strike for 9 months and the TUC had run out of money so couldn’t continue striking. The workers party, the Labour Party did not fully support the strike and public opinion turned against them. By November the miners had fully returned to work.

Consequences

Many felt that the strike had been for nothing as the miners had returned to work for lower wages and working longer hours. After the failure union membership dropped dramatically and the Government passed the Disputes and Trade Unions Act in 1927 which made it illegal for unions to join together and strike. Unions could no longer fund political parties without all members agreeing. It was only after WW2 that union membership again increased.

Significance

Short: Workers returned to work and the Disputes and Trade Unions Act in 1927 limited their future ability to disrupt. The relationship between the Labour Party and unions was weakened. Union membership fell and the public had largely supported the Government.

Long: There has never been another general strike in Britain. The Miners Union had further high profile strikes in 1972, 1974 and 1984. The mining industry has remained privately owned ever since.