1926 General Strike

1926 General Strike

 

The General Strike began at midnight on Monday 3^rd May 1926 as a result of the miners being locked out of the mines on Saturday May 1^st.

Many mine workers were out of work during the early twenties (see earlier blog on 1921 census).  A recession followed a short post-war boom.  Exports fell and the cost of living rose. Wages were reduced and mines were closed as mine owners attempted to make maximum profits. The Government, under Stanley Baldwin, provided a temporary subsidy to avert pay cuts and longer hours but this ended on May 1^st 1926. Councils of action were formed by miners. A slogan for the strike, given in the Workers’ Chronicle 1926 was

NOT A MINUTE ON THE DAY – NOT A PENNY OFF THE PAY

 Despite strong support for the miners, the Government would not give way and the strike lasted 9 days.  It ended on 12^th May.  But the miners held out for longer but eventually did return to work – for lower pay and longer hours. In Wallsend G Pit reopened on Oct 26^th, Edward Pit on Oct 28^th, Rising Sun on Nov 8^th.

Grandad, Edward McAndrew (see picture below), and his family would have been affected by this strike. He worked in Edward Pit and also acted as an advocate for other miners as part of the Miners Federation of Great Britain, a precursor of the National Union of Miners.  He told the family a story from this time regarding warships sailing up the Tyne.  Using resources from Newcastle City Library we have been able to find out more about this event.

 

The General Strike led to the formation of a strike committee from the union side and a Government Emergency service run by the authorities in Newcastle.  Newcastle was still an important port at this time and there were many ships on the docks which needed unloading. The trade unions and the strike committee had agreed that their members could unload food but no other cargo.  However, volunteers were introduced by the emergency organisation to unload shipping at the docks. This caused some conflict which was eventually eliminated by the removal of the volunteers.  On the afternoon of 4^th May two warships, the Ramilles and the Barham were berthed alongside the Liverpool landing stage discharging food supplies, mainly yeast.  Naval ships usually would be berthed at the naval anchorage in Jarrow.  This caused some consternation but it was stated that the boats were kept in their present position to deal with possible attacks on power stations or riots.