The General Strike - The National Archives

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Left: Photograph of volunteer workers loading boxes on to a truck at Paddington Station during the General Strike, Catalogue reference: RAIL 253/76. Right: Copy of The British Worker saying ‘Strike terminated today’, 12 May 1926. Catalogue reference: PRO 30/69/1830

Origins of the industrial unrest<br>The General Strike of 1926 grew out of long-running disputes in the coal industry. Britain’s coal mines were returned to private ownership in 1921, after a period of nationalisation during the First World War. Private mine owners wanted wage cuts, prompting strong opposition from the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain, which was supported by the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (TUC).<br>In 1925, a Royal Commission on the coal industry was set up by Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. In March 1926 it published its report, which rejected re-nationalisation and recommended wage reductions. Mine owners then demanded significant pay cuts and an eight-hour day, to commence on 1 May. They also insisted on a return to district settlements, which many believed would lead to further pay cuts in the future. When negotiations failed, more than a million miners were ‘locked out’ until they accepted the new terms of employment.<br>A special trade union conference voted in favour of a general strike in support of the miners, to begin on 3 May, while the TUC kept negotiating with the government. The strike was finally triggered when printers of the Daily Mail refused to print a leading article denouncing the general strike. In response the government announced that negotiations had broken down.<br>On the evening of 2 May, the Cabinet met in Downing Street. At the meeting it was recorded that:

Authentic information was received to the effect that certain employees in the office of the “Daily Mail” had declined to print a leading article, and that the “Daily Mail” would not be published on the morrow. This information, coupled with the evidence of specific instructions directing members of certain Trades Unions in several of the most vital industries and services of the country to carry out a General Strike on Tuesday next, was felt to introduce a new factor in the situation, and it was agreed that negotiations could not be continued without a repudiation by the Trades Union Council Committee of the actions referred to and an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the instructions of a general strike.

Cabinet meeting minutes, 2 May 1926. Catalogue reference: CAB 23/52/23

Workers walk out<br>At one minute to midnight on 3 May, the General Strike began. Over 1.5 million people halted work in solidarity with the miners. Strikers included workers from iron, steel, electricity, gas, docks, transport and printing industries. The transport system ground to a halt and deliveries of food were delayed. The government called in the army and brought in thousands of volunteers to support industry and provide public services.<br>Printers were on strike, so newspapers stopped circulating, making it difficult to get news about the strike. The government began publishing The British Gazette, which presented the government’s critical view of the strikers, while in response the TUC issued The British Worker to challenge this criticism.

Open transcript<br>Great Western Railway<br>Whom do you serve?<br>The Agreement of Service provides that each man will "abstain from any act that may injuriously affect the interests of the Company" and that "seven days' previous notice in writing of termination of service shall be given."<br>NOTICE TO THE STAFF<br>The National Union of Railwaymen have intimated that railwaymen have been asked to strike without notice tomorrow night. Each Great Western man has to decide his course of action but I appeal to all of you to hesitate before you break your contracts of service with the old Company before you inflict grave injury upon the Railway Industry, and before you arouse ill feeling in the Railway service which will take years to remove<br>Railway Companies and Railwaymen have demonstrated that they can settle their disputes by direct negotiations. The Mining Industry should be advised to do the same<br>Remember that your means of living and your personal interests are involved, and that Great Western men are trusted to be loyal to their conditions of service in the same manner as they expect the Company to carry out their obligations and agreements.<br>Felix J. C. Pole,<br>General Manager.<br>Paddington Station.<br>May 2nd, 1926.

Great Western Railway Magazine cover, May 1926. Catalogue reference: ZSPC 11/496

Staff magazines for some industries continued to be printed. The Great Western Railway...