again in July and Aug., for an advance of 14-3% in piece-rates
to compensate for the reduction in hours from eight to seven per
day; after a stoppage of from 25 to 29 days they accepted the
national settlement, which gave an advance of 12-2%. In
March 100,000 miners in South Wales, the Midlands, and York-
shire were on strike, and another 75,000 miners in Nottingham-
shire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, and other districts were on strike
in July, over the question of the miners' demands for increased
wages, a reduction of hours, and the nationalization of the mines.
There was a great strike in the cotton trade, for a reduction of hours and 30% advance in wages, in June and July 1919, both the spinning and the weaving sections being affected. The advance was granted, and the hours were reduced from 535 to 48 hours per week (instead of 465, as asked).
The greatest railway strike that had ever occurred in England began at midnight on Sept. 26 1919. An agreement had been made between the Government, the Railway Executive Commit- tee (representing the companies), and the trade unions in March 1919, providing, inter alia, for the determination by negotiation of new standard rates of pay for the various grades. Standard rates were agreed upon, in Aug., for drivers and motormen, fire- men and assistant motormen, and engine cleaners; and in Sept. the Board of Trade forwarded to the National Union of Railway- men their proposals for the standard rates of other grades, show- ing an average advance of 100% on pre-war rates, with a mini- mum of 2 a week. The Union rejected these proposals, claim- ing that the new rate should be based on the highest standard rate already existing for each grade, plus 335. war wage, with a minimum of 3 a week. Failing a favourable reply by Sept. 25, they announced an immediate strike. Negotiations continued, and fresh proposals were made by the Government; but the Union did not feel justified in postponing the strike, which accord- ingly began, as stated, at midnight on Sept. 26. The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, although not directly concerned in the dispute, supported the National Union of Railwaymen, and its members also ceased work.
On Oct. i a conference, arranged by the National Transport Workers' Federation (to which the railwaymen are affiliated), was attended by representatives of the Trades Union Congress Parliamentary committee, of the Labour party, and of a number of other trades besides railways. A mediating committee was appointed, and negotiations were resumed between the Govern- ment, the mediating committee, and the National Union of Railwaymen. A settlement was reached on Oct. 5, and work was resumed on the following morning.
The settlement provided for the resumption of negotiations, with the understanding that they should be completed by Dec. 31 1919; and for the stabilization of wages at their then existing level up to Sept. 30 1920 (subject to review at any time after Aug. i 1920). It was also provided that " no adult railwayman in Great Britain shall receive less than 513. so long as the cost of living is not less than 110% above pre-war level."
A strike of ironmoidders, core-makers, and iron and steel dressers began on Sept. 22 1919, and lasted until Jan. 12 1920. About 65,000 men were involved in the immediate dispute; but the shortage of castings consequent on the dispute greatly hindered the working of the engineering industry for many months.
The demands of the men were for an advance in wages of 1 55. a week for journeymen and 73. 6d. a week for apprentices. At the settlement on Jan. 12 they accepted an advance of 55. for men over 1 8 years of age, the same as had been granted to men in the engineering trades in the previous November. It was also agreed that negotiations should be resumed on the questions of: (i) the general working conditions in foundries; (2) questions arising out of the introduction of the 47-hour week; (3) minimum standard rates for the various districts; and (4) the jurisdiction of the unions over apprentices, and the wages of apprentices.
A strike of all classes of workpeople in the furnishing trades began in the Manchester district and N. E. Lancashire on June 27 1919, in support of a demand for an advance in wages, a work- ing week of 44 hours, and other concessions. On July 26 a lock- out was declared at High Wycombe, Birmingham, Nottingham,
Bristol and other centres, to enforce the termination of the dis- pute. At most of the centres involved in the lock-out settlements were reached by the end of Oct., advances in wages being granted; in some cases provision was made for the discussion of proposals to introduce sectional work, piece-work, or female labour, where not formerly in operation. The original dispute was also settled at the end of Oct., various advances being granted. At High Wy- combe, where the largest number of workpeople was involved, the lock-out was not brought to a close until nearly the end of Nov. ; here also advances in wages, varying according to sex and standing and the class of work done, were granted.
The year 1920 was remarkable for one dispute, the national coal strike of Oct. and Nov., the aggregate duration of which was second only to those of the two previous great coal strikes in 1893, and in 1912; and for an unprecedented number of smaller dis- putes, in a great variety of trades, many of which would have ranked as " great " disputes in a normal year. There were also many minor disputes in the building and in the textile trades. The coal strike began out of a demand put forward by the Min- ers' Federation of Great Britain (i) for a flat-rate advance in wages of 2s. a shift for all persons of the age of 18 years or over, with corresponding advances for those under that age; and (2) for a reduction of 145. 2d. a ton in the price of domestic coal. These demands were presented to the Controller of Coal Mines on July 15, and refused by the Government on July 26. A ballot of the Federation showed a great majority (606,782 to 238,865) in favour of a strike in support of these demands; and strike notices were handed in, in every district, to expire on Sept. 25.
Negotiations between the Government and the miners con- tinued, in the course of which the miners dropped their demand for a reduction in the price of domestic coal. The Government, after making various alternative proposals which were not accept- able to the miners, concentrated on the policy of making any advance that might be granted bear some relation to increased output. The miners, however, still pressed for an immediate unconditional advance of 2s. The strike notices were twice postponed, at first for a week and then for another fortnight, in order to allow the negotiations to continue. At this stage the mine-owners were called into conference; and meetings between representatives of the miners and of the mine-owners took place almost daily from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, inclusive.
During the first fortnight of Oct. a second ballot of the miners took place on certain proposals which had been formulated by the mine-owners at these conferences. These were to the effect that if, during the first fortnight of Oct. there were indications that the output of coal was at the rate of 240,000,000 tons per annum, an advance of is. a shift should be conceded as from Oct. i, with an additional 6d. for each 4,000,000 tons, up to 33. at 265,000,000 tons. The wages for the remainder of the year would be similarly regulated, and the whole scheme would come up for review at the end of December. The owners also pledged themselves to cooperate with the men in measures for increasing output. These proposals were rejected by the men, on a ballot vote, by a still larger majority (635,098 to 181,428); and work at the mines ceased on Oct. 16, except that certain men were allowed to continue at work for keeping the mines in order.
The strike was debated in the House of Commons on Oct. 19; and tentative suggestions for a settlement were made by Mr. Brace (at that time a member of the executive of the South Wales Miners' Federation), and by other members. Informal conversations, and then formal negotiations, followed between the Government and the miners' representatives, to which at a later stage the mine-owners also were called in; and an agreement was reached on Oct. 28 which the miners' representatives under- took to submit to their members, with a recommendation of acceptance " as a temporary measure." The agreement pledged the miners and the mine-owners to cooperate with the view of increasing output; also to prepare a scheme for the future regula- tion of wages, " having regard, among other considerations, to the profits of the industry, and to the principles upon which any surplus profits are to be dealt with." Pending the preparation of this scheme an immediate advance of 23. a shift was to be granted
