Causes of the General Strike In this essay I will discuss the reasons for the start of the general strike, the long and short term causes. In the 1920's Britain was having a hard time on the industrial front. It had begun with the miners, the coal industry wasn't fairing to well and was declining rapidly and had been since 1918. This was because during the first world war the mines were run by the government and the conditions of the mines were good but also the wages were standardised which the miners had no problems with as the were very acceptable. As soon as the war was over the mines returned back to private ownership and cuts in wages were announced immediately. The fall in mining productivity …show more content…
====================================================================== Due to the rapid fall in production the mine owners announced to the workers that their wages were to be reduced. The miners consequently went on strike to try and make the mine owners change their minds. Then the miners formed a TRIPLE ALLIANCE with the railway workers and transport workers (the National Union or Railwaymen and General Workers Union). The agreement said that under the triple alliance that the Railway union and the general workers union had to go on strike with the miners as a sympathy strike. This would cause major problems for the owners of their respective industries. ====================================================================== On Friday 15th April 1921, the General workers and the Railway workers refused to support the miners and stopped their workers going out on strike with them. This was a bad day for the miners and was …show more content…
The miners saw this as a great victory for Labour and named 31st July 1925 Red Friday this was by no means the end of it though as the subsidies were only for nine months. During this time the government set up the Samuel Commission to investigate the problems of British mining and discuss how best to increase its productivity. ===================================================================== The report was published in 1926, it rejected nationalisation but recognised a need for modernisation, it also recommended that subsidies should be withdrawn and miners' wages cut. The government agreed to accept the report if both sides agreed with its findings. This was unrealistic as the report made suggestions which neither party were willing to agree to. So the report was no help to the situation at all and the conflict returned to the same position as before the government
“Industrial unions dominated the landscape of the late nineteen century U.S. labor movement.” They gathered all level workers together without discrimination of gender, race, or nationality. They declared the eight-hour workday for the first time when normal work time should be 12. Low wage of workers caused the “Great Strike of 1877”, which began with railroad workers in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. After the “Great Strike”, industrial union started to
The Pullman Strike of 1894 was the first national strike in American history and it came about during a period of unrest with labor unions and controversy regarding the role of government in business.5 The strike officially started when employees organized and went to their supervisors to ask for a lowered rent and were refused.5 The strike had many different causes. For example, workers wanted higher wages and fewer working hours, but the companies would not give it to them; and the workers wanted better, more affordable living quarters, but the companies would not offer that to them either. These different causes created an interesting and controversial end to the Pullman strike. Because of this, questions were raised about the strike that are still important today. Was striking a proper means of getting what the workers wanted? Were there better means of petitioning their grievances? Was government intervention constitutional? All these questions were raised by the Pullman Strike.
In conclusion, the period from 1875 to 1890 brought many attempts at bettering the working conditions, but many of the working class’s attempts at being recognized went unnoticed. This resulted in violence, frustration, and unnecessary deaths. The series of failed strikes and attempts to receive government intervention resulted in heightened anger among the employees. Without an increase in wages, decrease in working hours, and improvement of working facilities, many workers left their jobs leaving the employer angry and in need of workers. None were available, however, because they were either protesting for better working conditions, signing a contract with a better company, or blocking rail and roadways in order to get their points across to the government.
The period in American history between 1900 and 1920 was a very turbulent one. Civil unrest was brewing as a result of many pressures placed upon the working class. Although wealth was accumulating at an astonishing rate in America, most people at the lower economic levels were not benefiting from any of it. Worst of all for them, the federal government seemed to be on the side of the corporations. Their helpless situation and limited options is why the coal strike of 1902 is so important.
The early 1900s was a time of many movements, from the cities to the rural farms; people were uniting for various causes. One of the most widespread was the labor movement, which affected people far and wide. Conditions in the nation’s workplaces were notoriously poor, but New York City fostered the worst. Factories had started out in the city’s tenements, which were extremely cramped, poorly ventilated, and thoroughly unsanitary. With the advent of skyscrapers, factories were moved out of the tenements and into slightly larger buildings, which still had terrible conditions. Workers were forced to work long hours (around 12 hours long) six hours a day, often for extremely low pay. The pay was also extremely lower for women, who made up a large portion of the shirtwaist industry. If a worker were to openly contest an employer’s rule, they would be promptly fired and replaced immediately. Also, strength in numbers did not always work. Managers often hired brutal strikebreakers to shut movements down. The local police and justice were often of no help to the workers, even when women were being beaten. At the time, the workers needs were not taken seriously and profit was placed ahead of human life. This was not just a struggle for workers’ rights; it was also a movement for the working class’ freedom.
The organized labor was unsuccessful because many of the workers went on strike or were killed and didn’t get what they wanted. On July 7, 1892 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there were ten people reported dead and more that had no official notification of death (Document G). These people died because they participated in the Homestead Strike. Even after this gruesome strike Homestead did not give into their demands and remained a nonunion for a while after. This proves that even though they held a strike against the factory, the workers conditions did not improve at all and many people died making the Homestead Strike unsuccessful. On July 18, 1877 there was an editorial about the Railroad Strike of 1877. It stated that “The strike is apparently hopeless, and must be regarded as nothing more than a rash and spiteful demonstration of resentment by men too ignorant… to understand their own interests.” (Document B). This document proves that the Railroad Strike was not making a dent in the workers conditions. The strikers are the workers and because they are on strike they are not working which means no income. They do all this and they get nothing out of the strike, again proving that the labor union was unsuccessful. Since many of the organized strikes turned out not to do anything, in some cases death, the labor union failed to improve the workers conditions.
The lower, middle, and upper classes started to form and that change the landscape of the nation. Workers that were frustrated with they pay and working conditions started to form unions and strikes to get what they want. One example of that was when journeymen shoemakers formed a protest in 1806 (AH, 339). They even received some free press to further their cause through the Phalanx by calling out for a “strike for wages” (AH, S11-5). Even though some of the strikes were unsuccessful, it was clear that workers had a voice when banding together to help change their working
The Strike of 1934 On May 9th 1934 a organized labor strike started in San Francisco that would snowball into a city crippling strike. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) declared a strike for all longshoremen on the west coast, until they received better wages, a union-administered hiring hall, and union membership as a prerequisite for employed longshoremen. The Strike of 1934 lasted for three months, stopping maritime trade in the ports of the Western United States, from San Diego to Seattle. The clash was between the Industrial Association (IA), composed of big business and employers wanting to break the strike, and the ILA, along with other unions that dealt with maritime trades.
Causes of the Russian Revolution Consider the following causes of the October 1917 Russian Revolution: Poor Living and Working Conditions Effects of the First World War The Appeal of Lenin and the Bolsheviks The Limitations of the 1917 Provisional Government Was any one of these causes more important than the others to the Bolsheviks’ seizure of power in 1917? Explain your answer. A1. When the Bolsheviks seized power in the October Russian Revolution, the country was in complete turmoil. Every one was unhappy about something and things weren’t going so well for the Royal family and the aristocracy.
The American Revolution was a dramatic change in the political, social, and economic system of New England. It was not a bloody revolution; on the contrary it is unique because it was not as violence as other revolutions we know (French, Russia and China).
The strike affected much of the country, and it had great influence on public opinion on the rights of workers. It showed how the roles of management and the roles of government handled this situation. The Pullman Strike of 1894 and its aftermath had a huge effect on the course of the labor movement in the United States. The use of federal troops and the labor injunction sent a message to U.S. workers that would not change until the new deal of the 1930s. George Pullman was no longer look at as the great enlightened employer who took care of his workers, but a greedy intolerant man. After the strike he was worried that people would rob him so when he was buried he had it lined in concrete so no one could. The Pullman strike ultimately was unsuccessful at the time. Workers were sent to jail and many couldn’t find any jobs after. Although, it was successful in several ways. The federal government was involved for the first time in history because of a strike, and because they all took a stand for their human rights it impacted the future and how workers are treated
The American Revolution was a necessary part of history; it was a revolution that was a political catastrophe that took place from 1775 to 1783. The revolution originated from a conflict between the 13 North American colonies and the colonial government that was represented by the British crown. It is clear that the American revolution was irrepressible the 13 colonies were unwilling to follow the British ruling while the British were adamant on having control. The American revolution was fueled by religious, political, and economic conflict. The revolution became an international conflict, it inspired other countries to gain independence. Without Americas independence things would be vastly different. Americans influence on the world due to the war have been profound. The revolution gave our country, its core beliefs, including freedom, equal opportunities, and freedom of speech.
The Winnipeg General Strike The year of 1919 has been one of the most influential years of strikes
Industrial disputes can be majorly because of economic and non-economic causes. The economic causes are issues relating to compensation like, condition for work, working hours, allowances, wages, bonus leave and holidays without pay, unjust layoffs and retrenchments. Whereas the non economic factors are victimization of workers, ill treatment by staff members, political factors, indiscipline, sympathetic strikes, etc.