The 1926 General Strike

Introduction

The 1926 General Strike was a landmark moment in British labour history. It began on May 4^th, 1926, after miners went on strike and were supported by other key industries. The bulk of the strike only lasted for ten days with no concessions made to workers. Miners, on the other hand, stayed on strike for eight months but were forced back to work with the onset of winter at conditions worse than those they started with. For this reason, the strike is considered to have failed.

Leicester workers out on demonstration during the strike (Leicester Chronicle)

In Leicester

Ned Newett writes that the strike is scarcely mentioned in formal record of the city’s history, giving the impression that the strike was not important. However, he argues that the strike played an important role in the city’s history even if it is not remembered very well. Audio recordings made in the 1980s appear to support both of these claims as the testimony is varied. Edwin Peacock, for example, suggests that the city was fully behind the strike, whereas Charles Monk offers a testimony of an unenthusiastic official organiser and his own efforts to get his workplace out on strike.

Edwin Peacock testifies that all the industries were out except for tram drivers (the testimony about trams conflicts with other historical accounts which say trams did strike)

Trams stopped during the general strike, conflicting with the memory of Edwin Peacock (Leicester Chronicle).

Charles Monk describes the effort he put in to encourage his workplace out on strike, seemingly having more enthusiasm and conviction than his union organiser. Even though he was isolated in his actions, he is glad of what he did.

Kathleen McDonagh describes her memory of the role Leicester shoemakers played in conjunction with the co-operative society in aiding striking miners marching to London.

John Webb testifies that the railway drivers went on strike to support the embargo of coal for the striking miners. Soldiers were called in to replace the striking workers which he claims to have seen pictures of.

Volunteers and soldiers were brought in to try and break the railway strike (Leicester Chronicle).

The use of volunteer strikebreakers led to this train derailment at Loughborough station, north of Leicester (Leicester Chronicle).

Legacy and Conclusion

The legacy of the 1926 General Strike is that the strike failed. However, it is remembered by labour and leftist groups as a landmark event in their history. In 2023, the event has re-entered public conscience with the onset of rail strikes, with many publications speculating on the possibility of a general strike in the 21st century. In Leicester, Charles Monk reflected on what the legacy meant to him.

Charles Monk is also regretful of the legacy of the strike. He believes that the failure of the strike “scared” workers making it harder for them to fight future disputes.

This page was created by Carter Buckingham.

Sources:

Encyclopedia Britannica.

Leicester's Radical History, The General Strike in Leicester, 1926. Ned Newitt.

Leicester Chronicle, 15th May, 1926.

Interviews from the Leicester Oral History Archive Collection at EMOHA: