1911 Liverpool General Transport Strike
Encyclopedia
The 1911 Liverpool General Transport Strike involved dockers
, railway workers and sailors, as well people from other trades. It paralysed Liverpool
commerce
for most of the summer of 1911. It also transformed trade unionism on Merseyside
. For the first time, general trade unions were able to establish themselves on a permanent footing and become genuine mass organisations of the working class.
Strike action
began on 14 June when the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union
announced a nation-wide merchant seamen's strike. Solidarity action in support of the seamen led to other sections of workers coming out on strike. A strike committee - chaired by syndicalist Tom Mann
- was formed to represent all the workers in dispute.
Many meetings were held at St. George’s Hall on Lime Street, including the rally where police baton charge
d thousands of people who had gathered to hear Tom Mann speak.
Dockers
Dockers is a brand of khaki garments from Levi Strauss & Co.Levi Strauss & Co., then specialized in denim, introduced the Dockers brand in 1986. Dockers became a leading brand of business casual clothing for men led by Bob Siegel. In 1987, Dockers introduced a women's line...
, railway workers and sailors, as well people from other trades. It paralysed Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
for most of the summer of 1911. It also transformed trade unionism on Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
. For the first time, general trade unions were able to establish themselves on a permanent footing and become genuine mass organisations of the working class.
Strike action
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
began on 14 June when the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union
National Union of Seamen
The National Union of Seamen was the principal trade union of merchant seafarers in the United Kingdom from the late 1880s to 1990. In 1990, the union amalgamated with the National Union of Railwaymen to form the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers .- The National Amalgamated...
announced a nation-wide merchant seamen's strike. Solidarity action in support of the seamen led to other sections of workers coming out on strike. A strike committee - chaired by syndicalist Tom Mann
Tom Mann
Tom Mann was a noted British trade unionist. Largely self-educated, Mann became a successful organiser and a popular public speaker in the labour movement.-Early years:...
- was formed to represent all the workers in dispute.
Many meetings were held at St. George’s Hall on Lime Street, including the rally where police baton charge
Baton charge
A baton charge is a coordinated tactic for dispersing crowds of people, usually used by police or military during public order situations. In certain countries, police are not authorised to use the tactic unless no other means can be practiced....
d thousands of people who had gathered to hear Tom Mann speak.