AWARDS/LETTERS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: november/december 2019 :: RMTnews 29 Dear editor, The RMT News pull-out on the 1919 railway strike captured the strike’s success in beating pay cuts. But although the strike won, it was also a missed opportunity. Working people began 1919 determined to fight for the ‘land fit for heroes’ that Prime Minister Lloyd George had promised but not delivered. Engineers led general strikes in Clydeside and Belfast and rail workers formed a Triple Alliance with miners and transport workers. The government feared that the unions could topple it. But instead, union leaders allowed their battles to be pushed to later in the year. The National Union of Railwaymen (NUR) demanded an eight-hour working day. Tube drivers took strike action, and union historian Philip Bagwell claims that when other members wanted to strike, General Secretary JH Thomas ‘had considerably difficulty in restraining the men.’ Thomas was a committed ‘constitutionalist’ who opposed militant action. The Railway Executive refused the NUR’s demands. The union’s Special General Meeting (SGM) expressed its ‘utmost disgust’ and voted for a national strike. But, along with the transport and miners’ union leaders, Thomas decided against this. Instead, they held further talks, which dragged on for months while the government prepared to defeat the inevitable strike but union leaders tried to avoid it. In August, the Railway Executive increased wages for clerical workers and some traincrew, but proposed wage cuts for other grades. In September, the NUR issued a strike ultimatum, but its leaders still tried to avoid the strike. They failed and ASLEF joined NUR in striking. However, union leaders had refused calls from bus, tram and dock workers to join the action. Thomas was worried that a wider strike would undermine the government! The government’s attempts to crush the strike were met with solid resistance, and it withdrew the pay cuts. Many issues were referred to ongoing talks but NUR branches passed resolutions declaring that withdrawing wage cuts was not enough; workers needed a rise. By June 1920, NUR branches were angry at the government’s derisory pay offer of just two shillings a week and disappointed at their union’s agreement to it. A heroic and powerful strike had defeated employers’ attacks, but its achievements were less than they might have been. Janine Booth Scotrail guard John MacDonald received his 40-year RMT long service award at Fort William Railway Club from branch secretary Ronald Wegner MISSED OPPORTUNITY L E T T E R S POOLE & DISTRICT BUS BRANCH NOMINATES RICKEY GOODMAN FOR WESSEX REGIONAL ORGANISER WATERLOO BRANCH NOMINATES RICKEY GOODMAN FOR WESSEX REGIONAL ORGANISER FELTHAM BRANCH NOMINATES RICKEY GOODMAN FOR WESSEX REGIONAL ORGANISER ANDOVER AND SALISBURY BRANCH NOMINATES RICKEY GOODMAN FOR WESSEX REGIONAL ORGANISER PORTSMOUTH BRANCH NOMINATES GEOFF KITE FOR WESSEX REGIONAL ORGANISER SURREY AND HANTS BRANCH NOMINATES GEOFF KITE FOR WESSEX REGIONAL ORGANISER WIMBLEDON BRANCH NOMINATES GEOFF KITE FOR WESSEX REGIONAL ORGANISER BASINGSTOKE BRANCH NOMINATES GEOFF KITE FOR WESSEX REGIONAL ORGANISER SOUTH HANTS AND EASTLEIGH WORKSHOPS BRANCH NOMINATES GEOFF KITE FOR WESSEX REGIONAL ORGANISER SALISBURY BRANCH NOMINATES GEOFF KITE FOR WESSEX REGIONAL ORGANISER FORT WILLIAM AWARD