General Strike 1926

General Strike 1926

1. Events

   • Began 3rd May 1926
   • Ended 13th May 1926
   • TUC organised in support of miners in the North East
   • 2 million workers went on strike
   • Dockers, Railwaymen and transport workers
   • Refusal of print workers to publish Daily Mail paper attacking trade unions leads to strike being called
   • Govt and police reaction is aggressive. Mass picketing techniques used by strikers
     • 11 May: TUC calls off strike and workers are left alone for November until they forced to go back to work for less pay

2. Reason For Failure

   • Govt was ready: OMS headed by Winston Churchill and general strike was portrayed as 'evil' through propaganda. Military action also used
   • Violence of the strikers and support from Communists led middle class to oppose strike
   • Labour Leaders and TUC denounced the strike, leading to disorganisation and lack of funding and support

3. Causes

   • Trade Union Militancy
     • Period of industrial unrest
     • Triple Alliance formed
   • Economic Depression
     • Post-war economy was weak
     • Return to gold standard crippled coal exports
   • Fear of Communism
     • Publication of forged Zinoviev Letter - Threat of revolution by workers
     • Middle class in fear and less likely to give in to workers demands
   • Coal Industry Issues
     • Out of date industry
     • 1921: Wages were cut and working hours increased
     • 1925: Threat from mine owners to cut wages again. General strike threat from Triple Alliance. 9 months govt. subsidy
     • March 1926: Samuel Commission recommends reorganisation of mining industry. Wages should be cut by 13% but hours should not be increased. Neither miners nor owners can compromise

4. Impact

   • Miners were defeated
   • TUC was ruined - membership fell from 5.5 million in 1925 to only 3.75 million in 1930.
   • General strikes were made illegal by the Trades Disputes Act 1927
   • Labour Party won the 1929 elections
   • Despite Stanley Baldwin's conciliatory approach, the Conservatives lost