The General Strike, 1926

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What were the reasons for the general strike?
Economic depression in 1925 (reduced value of pound), fear of communism meant the bristish people were opposed to supporting unions' demands since they were socialist, confidence in the TUC
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When did the TUC form a General Council?
1921
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By 1925, what was the General Council advocating?
A strong industrial alliance to lead all TUC unions into a sympathy strike if a member union was attacked and avoid the failure of Black friday from happening again
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What was trade union membership like in 1925 and what did this show?
5.5 million which showed that the TUC was widely supported
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What did mine owners declare that they were planning to do in 1925?
Abolish the national minimum wage, cut wages by 10-25%, maintain profit levels, no matter how low wages fell
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What did Stanley Baldwin's Conservative gov. do to avoid sympathy strikes?
Fund the mine owners with a 9 month subsidy to protect wages while a royal commission investigated. TUC saw this as a temporary victory
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What did James Thomas, chair of the TUC committee, suggest was necessary?
That the government should seek a peaceful solution - when they had used the time to prepare financially, consider economic options for mining and to win a propaganda war.
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What was the result of the Samuel Commission?
It recommended the reduction of wages and on 1 May, employers cut wages
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Who took responsibility to negotiate for the miners?
The TUC General Council
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Why were negotiations stopped after brief discussions?
Baldwin's gov stopped negotiating when the Daily Mail refused to print a pro-gov editorial which labelled the miners as 'revolutionary'
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When was a General Strike called to start?
3rd May 1926
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Why was there confusion over who should strike?
The TUC had limited control. The General council decided that only 'group one' unions should join the strike and 'group 2' unions should wait to see if they were needed - in the end 'group 2' joined without being asked
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What occurred as a result of the lack of consensus over who should strike?
A large scale nine day general strike in which workers in many trades across britain went on strike in support of the miners
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Did the strike turn violent? What was the gov's response?
By 6 may there was fighting between police and strikers in London, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The gov. recalled the army to London
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What proposals were agreed upon by the TUC and Herbert Samuel of the Commission?
Without consulting the miner's federation they agreed on, a national wage board, a minimum wage for miners, workers forced out of mining work to be offered alternative employment, wages subsidies to continue during negotiations
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What did Samuel make clear about these proposals, did the miners federation agree?
They would require miners to accept wage cuts, they did not agree
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When did the TUC agree to accept the proposals and what was the result?
11 May, the next day they informed Baldwin that the strike was over
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

When did the TUC form a General Council?

Back

1921

Card 3

Front

By 1925, what was the General Council advocating?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What was trade union membership like in 1925 and what did this show?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What did mine owners declare that they were planning to do in 1925?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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