Consider again, how the industry might 1925: The ‘Return to Made coal exports more become more competitive against Gold’. expensive, particularly foreign imports. against German and Polish coal- this meant that sales of British coal abroad dipped sharply. 1926: the Samuel The subsidy continued, Commission- but only for a year- this recommended the meant the government reorganisation of could make preparations the coal industry for strike action, they rejecting drew up plans to stockpile nationalisation- also essential supplies and recommended the enlisted volunteers to run government subsidy key services. should be The crisis was predicted withdrawn and that to come in 1926, when miners’ wages they were no longer should be reduced protected by the subsidy. to make the industry be more profitable. Growing They backed down from a How might the other unions feel towards the coal workers as a result? unemployment confrontation in 1925. meant that other However, the TUC unions were less supported a miners’ strike willing to support in 1926. the miners. Government The refusal of the Daily What might Churchill’s attitudes have been? attempted to Mail printers to print an negotiate. anti-union article raised the issue of whether this was strike over pay and hours or a strike over the power of trade unions. Task 3: Source Exercise What are the differences between these two sources, both expressing Churchill’s views? Source A: The Chancellor of the Exchequer Source B: Churchill writing in his official expresses his view about the Strike to the newspaper. House of Commons. This is the most destructive industrial The miners of course have a right to strike. But disturbance which this country has experienced that is an entirely different thing from the in generations. The trade unions have become concerted, deliberate organised menace of a the tool of the Socialist Party and have brought General Strike in order to compel Parliament politics into industry in a manner unknown in to do something which otherwise it would not this country before now. The extremists are do. However, when the threat of a national able on every occasion to force the moderates strike is withdrawn we shall immediately into violent action. Moscow influence and begin, with the utmost care and patience to Moscow money have droned the voice of
1925: The ‘Return to Gold’. Made coal exports more expensive, particularly against German and Polish coal- this meant that sales of British coal abroad dipped sharply. Consider again, how the industry might become more competitive against foreign imports. 1926: the Samuel Commission- recommended the reorganisation of the coal industry rejecting nationalisation- also recommended the government subsidy should be withdrawn and that miners’ wages should be reduced to make the industry be more profitable. The subsidy continued, but only for a year- this meant the government could make preparations for strike action, they drew up plans to stockpile essential supplies and enlisted volunteers to run key services. The crisis was predicted to come in 1926, when they were no longer protected by the subsidy. Growing unemployment meant that other unions were less willing to support the miners. They backed down from a confrontation in 1925. However, the TUC supported a miners’ strike in 1926. How might the other unions feel towards the coal workers as a result? Government attempted to negotiate. The refusal of the Daily Mail printers to print an anti-union article raised the issue of whether this was strike over pay and hours or a strike over the power of trade unions. What might Churchill’s attitudes have been? Task 3: Source Exercise What are the differences between these two sources, both expressing Churchill’s views? Source A: The Chancellor of the Exchequer expresses his view about the Strike to the House of Commons. The miners of course have a right to strike. But that is an entirely different thing from the concerted, deliberate organised menace of a General Strike in order to compel Parliament to do something which otherwise it would not do. However, when the threat of a national strike is withdrawn we shall immediately begin, with the utmost care and patience to Source B: Churchill writing in his official newspaper. This is the most destructive industrial disturbance which this country has experienced in generations. The trade unions have become the tool of the Socialist Party and have brought politics into industry in a manner unknown in this country before now. The extremists are able on every occasion to force the moderates into violent action. Moscow influence and Moscow money have droned the voice of