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
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
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Out of date industry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
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