General Strike of 1926
Quick Summary
The General Strike of 1926 in Britain was a nine-day national work stoppage involving approximately 3 million trade union members. It was called by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in support of coal miners who were in dispute with mine owners. The strike aimed to pressure the government to intervene in the coal dispute. However, the TUC called off the strike after realizing it could not effectively disrupt essential public services. The government subsequently passed legislation in 1927 to define the boundaries of legitimate union action.123
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Stanley BaldwinWhen the miners went on strike (May 4, 1926) and they were supported with sympathetic strikes in other vital industries, Baldwin proclaimed a state of emergency, organized volunteers to maintain essential services, and refused to negotiate further with labour until the strike was called off (it ended May 12, 1926).…
Read MoreWhen the miners went on strike (May 4, 1926) and they were supported with sympathetic strikes in other vital industries, Baldwin proclaimed a state of emergency, organized volunteers to maintain essential services, and refused to negotiate further with labour until the strike was called off (it ended May 12, 1926).…
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United KingdomThe Baldwin era…British labour, however, this so-called general strike is as unimportant as it was unsuccessful. As a general strike, it lasted only 10 days, from May 3 to May 12. The miners themselves held out for nearly eight months and were finally starved into returning as winter began, at lower wages…
Read More…British labour, however, this so-called general strike is as unimportant as it was unsuccessful. As a general strike, it lasted only 10 days, from May 3 to May 12. The miners themselves held out for nearly eight months and were finally starved into returning as winter began, at lower wages…
Read More
