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Reasons and consequences of industrial change and changing industrial…
Reasons and consequences of industrial change and changing industrial relations (1918-39)
Changes in industry between wars
Industries were damaged by the Great Depression
Unemployment increased to 3 million in 1932 and 1933
They were less competitive compared to other European nations
Steel & cotton's land would've been destroyed - pay to rebuild and replant cotton taking longer and costing more £
They were reliant on exports during the Great War - lost market share
Unemployment was never below 2 million between 1921 and 1940
Traditional industries did poorly than those with a growing sector
Employers had to cut costs and improve productivity - govt sided with employers
1926 General Strike
Govt sold them off to private firms
Pay was cut and hours increased - industry fell behind Germany
Miners Union (MFGB) were very strong
Wages failed to keep up with prices
Coal mining was dangerous - 3603 killed and nearly 600,000 injured between 1922-24
There was no mechanisation - 80% of coal was mined with a pickaxe
Govt gave £23bn subsidy to avoid a strike - gave mine owners and government time to prepare for a clash
Surge in German coal production and return to Gold standard led to exports falling
March 1926 - Samuel Commission suggested better conditions for miners
Finished in 9 days - miners left to strike by themselves for 6 months with no success
May 3 - General strike where 3 million workers went on strike
Wages for miners were slashed and 30% of people lost their jobs
Trades Disputes Act in 1927 prevented sympathy strikes and mass picketing
Working class men looked to labour to deliver political solutions
Why the strike failed
A proposal of a National Wage Board, wage subsidies and no pay cuts were accepted by the TUC
Strike cost TUC £4m of its £12.5 budget
Govt prepared for a strike since July 1925
Workers were not ready and did not coordinate their efforts
Trade Union membership
1939 - 7.23m
1945 - 7.88m
1927 - 5.22m
1972 - 11.35m
1918 - 6.53m
1979 - 13.50m