THE GREAT 1919 RAILWAY STRIKE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2019 :: RMTnews 15 The Great Railway Strike of 1919 was one of the defining moments in the history of the forerunner of RMT the National Union of Railwaymen, an all-grades union newly formed before the outbreak of World War One. Written and researched by RMT News managing editor Brian Denny, The ‘Definitive’ Strike describes how the 1919 strike was the culmination of the long struggle to win guaranteed hours, standardised wages, paid holidays and overtime payments among other demands. For such an important dispute it remains a little-known story and The ‘Definitive’ Strike looks at the build-up of the strike, how the government demanded pay cuts for the lowest grades and the reasons why the NUR forced a hostile government to cave in after nine days of solid strike action. The NUR membership response to the call for immediate strike action without a ballot took the establishment completely by surprise. The union, assisted by labour journalists, also launched an intense media campaign, the first time a trade union had done so successfully. This beatifully illustrated pamphlet deals with the twists and turns of the conflict which saw the NUR harness ever widening solidarity and support from the labour movement and the public at large. The NUR message had got through that attacks on rail workers wages and conditions today would mean attacks on all workers at a later date. Ultimately, the 1919 rail strike showed that, following the Great War, rail workers were determined to equip themselves with the tools to resist the poor conditions and low wages suffered before the war. Copies are available on the RMT web-shop for £5. THE GREAT 1919 RAILWAY STRIKE RMT publishes new history of the 1919 rail strike, known as the ‘definitive’ strike