Reasons for industrial change
● Industry hadnt changed since the victorian times
● The machinery was old, production methods were old, no investment & inability to complete with foreign
competitors e.g. USA. During the interwar years it was these industries that had the most unrest.
● But there were some industries (based in the Midlands) that were changing e.g. car manufacturing,
domestic appliances (washing machine + vacuum cleaners). The conditions in these places were good
& pay OK, therefore not much union involvement.
● There were ‘two Englands’ in this era. New & Old industries.
● New – electrical appliances increased workforce x 2.5
building industry increased workforce by 33%
service industries (hotels, holiday camps etc.) increased workforce by 40%
Industrial Relations, 1918-21
During WWI DLG negotiated with the trade union movement to keep strikes to a minimum but there were still
some strikes. Following the armistice there was a large wave of unrest. As employment in factories increased,
strikes declined – 1919 32 million days lost in strikes 1920 25 million days lost. BUT in 1921 unemployment
increased, wages slumped = more strikes – 84 million days lost.
The miners strike 1921
● Government control of mines ended in 1921 so hours increased & wages were cut to compete with
foreign imports.
● MFGB (The Miners Federation of Great Britain), National Transport Workers Federation (NTWF) &
National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) talked of a possible united strike. Even if foreign coal was
imported, if no-one would transport it there could be a general strike.
● Black Friday – 15/04/21 the NUR + NTWF decided not to go on strike.
● The miners went on strike between 15 April – 28 June but had to go back to work.
● They were forced to accept wage cuts
The general strike – 1926.
● An enquiry was made to miners’ conditions & a subsidy was made to their pay until May 1926.
● The owners told miners they would have to take a pay cut when subsidy ended & threatened a lock out.
● A government enquiry was made (Samuel Commission) – recommended 13.5% pay cut & withdrawal of
subsidy.
● May 1926 1 million workers were locked= out for not accepting lower pay.
● TUC announced a general strike in May 1926.
● The government knew the strike would happen and used the British Gazette & BBC to broadcast
support.
● Labour distanced itself from the strikes.
● An anti-union group of volunteers was founded & they did the jobs of the strikers e.g. manned trains,
driving etc.
● Union members returned to work but some singled out as trouble makers.
● Miner’s wages were slashed & the industry lost 30% of its jobs.
Part 2 – Industrial Relations- changing work opportunities & conditions -The Second World War, 1939-45.
Changes: - Full employment -Large number of women in factories -Factories all now operational – munitions &
weapons - 1944 – 33% of civilian population in work – including 7 million women
Employment – Essential Job Order in March 1941 (Ernest Bevin) tied people to jobs needed for the war effort &
made it difficult for employers to dismiss employees. Skilled workers were exempt from military service. Working
● Industry hadnt changed since the victorian times
● The machinery was old, production methods were old, no investment & inability to complete with foreign
competitors e.g. USA. During the interwar years it was these industries that had the most unrest.
● But there were some industries (based in the Midlands) that were changing e.g. car manufacturing,
domestic appliances (washing machine + vacuum cleaners). The conditions in these places were good
& pay OK, therefore not much union involvement.
● There were ‘two Englands’ in this era. New & Old industries.
● New – electrical appliances increased workforce x 2.5
building industry increased workforce by 33%
service industries (hotels, holiday camps etc.) increased workforce by 40%
Industrial Relations, 1918-21
During WWI DLG negotiated with the trade union movement to keep strikes to a minimum but there were still
some strikes. Following the armistice there was a large wave of unrest. As employment in factories increased,
strikes declined – 1919 32 million days lost in strikes 1920 25 million days lost. BUT in 1921 unemployment
increased, wages slumped = more strikes – 84 million days lost.
The miners strike 1921
● Government control of mines ended in 1921 so hours increased & wages were cut to compete with
foreign imports.
● MFGB (The Miners Federation of Great Britain), National Transport Workers Federation (NTWF) &
National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) talked of a possible united strike. Even if foreign coal was
imported, if no-one would transport it there could be a general strike.
● Black Friday – 15/04/21 the NUR + NTWF decided not to go on strike.
● The miners went on strike between 15 April – 28 June but had to go back to work.
● They were forced to accept wage cuts
The general strike – 1926.
● An enquiry was made to miners’ conditions & a subsidy was made to their pay until May 1926.
● The owners told miners they would have to take a pay cut when subsidy ended & threatened a lock out.
● A government enquiry was made (Samuel Commission) – recommended 13.5% pay cut & withdrawal of
subsidy.
● May 1926 1 million workers were locked= out for not accepting lower pay.
● TUC announced a general strike in May 1926.
● The government knew the strike would happen and used the British Gazette & BBC to broadcast
support.
● Labour distanced itself from the strikes.
● An anti-union group of volunteers was founded & they did the jobs of the strikers e.g. manned trains,
driving etc.
● Union members returned to work but some singled out as trouble makers.
● Miner’s wages were slashed & the industry lost 30% of its jobs.
Part 2 – Industrial Relations- changing work opportunities & conditions -The Second World War, 1939-45.
Changes: - Full employment -Large number of women in factories -Factories all now operational – munitions &
weapons - 1944 – 33% of civilian population in work – including 7 million women
Employment – Essential Job Order in March 1941 (Ernest Bevin) tied people to jobs needed for the war effort &
made it difficult for employers to dismiss employees. Skilled workers were exempt from military service. Working
