The failure of trade unions to challenge government is
illustrated in this Punch cartoon of 19 May 1926. The General
Strike began on 4 May 1926 and was the first of its kind. The
number of strikers was overwhelming - falling between 1.5 and
1.75 million people. The strike chartered new territory for
workers by closing mines, transport, newspapers, docks and power
stations. Search using A.J. Cook - Pelling, H., The History of
British Trade Unionism (London: Macmillan, 1987) - Taylor, R.,
The TUC: from the General Strike to the New Trade Unionism
(London: Palgrave, 2000) - Lowe, R., Adjusting to Democracy: The
Role of the Ministry of Labour in British Politics (Oxford:
Clarendon, 1986) - Wrigley, C.J., The Trade Unions between the
Wars In Wrigley, C.J. ed., A History of British Industrial
Relations 1914-1939 (Brighton: Harvester, 1987)