The General Strike of May 1926 was a unique event in British history. The strike was in solidarity with the miners who had been locked out by the mine owners on May 1st. The strike lasted from May 4 to May 12 before the TUC, who had called for the solidarity action, called the strike off.
The talk examines the cause of the strike, its effectiveness and why the TUC called the strike off, leaving the miners to fight their industrial dispute alone, which led to a significant defeat for Britain’s largest trade union . It also asks what were the long term consequences for industrial relations and politics in Britain. The talk will also reference events In the Calder Valley.
As a long time member of HBLHS Alan Fowler has spoken frequently about Labour Party and Union History with a close focus on events in the Calder Valley. Alan taught economic and social history for 40 years in Manchester and has written on the history of Lancashire cotton trade unions. He is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.