Trade unions

Aim of the 40 hour strike?

Force the reduction from 54 hr to 40hr work days

What was the Battle of George square

40,000 protestors. The government deployed 10,000 troops, 36 injured

Why did the 40 hour strike happen

There were lots of workers after world war one. The Joint Strike committee of Glasgow wanted more jobs for people and a reduction of hours

Previous rejected solutions of the 40 hour strike

Reduction from 53 to 47 hrs

What is the 40 hour strike also known as

Bloody Friday

Impact of WW1 on Railway

Thomas had won railway workers the prolongation of wartime bonus into peacetime

Impact of WW1: Coal miners

Pressurised the gov to form the Sankey commission which investigated the coal mines. Won a 2 shilling pay rise (20% of total wages) . Hours also cut from 8 to 7 but gov returned to private ownership which reduced wages

How many members of the Triple Alliance?

1.5 million members

Black Friday 1921: Quote about government to trade unions

“We are at your mercy”

Black Friday 1921: Gov poses a hard question

“If a force arises in a state that is stronger than the state itself, it must either take on the functions of the state or accept its authority”. No longer a labour dispute, a political challenge to a democratically elected parliament

Black Friday 1921: Thomas regarding not joining the Miners

“If the miners cannot make up their minds, we cannot ask the people to sacrifice themselves”. People branded him as “Traitor Thomas”

Impact on General Strike

Showed limits of industrial power