Ulster Workers' Council Strike
Encyclopedia
The Ulster Workers' Council (UWC) strike was a general strike
that took place in Northern Ireland
between 15 May and 28 May 1974, during "The Troubles
". The strike was called by loyalists
and unionists
who were against the Sunningdale Agreement
, which had been signed in December 1973. Specifically, the strikers opposed the sharing of political power with nationalists
, and the proposed role for the Republic of Ireland
's government in running Northern Ireland
The strike was organised and overseen by the Ulster Workers' Council and Ulster Army Council
, which were formed shortly after the Agreement's signing. Both of these groups included loyalist paramilitaries
such as the Ulster Defence Association
(UDA) and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). These groups helped to enforce the strike by blocking roads and intimidating workers. During the two-week strike, loyalist paramilitaries killed 39 civilians, of which 33 died in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings
.
The strike succeeded in bringing down the power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly
and Executive
. Responsibility for the government of Northern Ireland then reverted to the Parliament of the United Kingdom
at Westminster
under the arrangements for 'Direct Rule'.
The successful strike was later described by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
, Merlyn Rees
, as an "outbreak of Ulster nationalism
".
on a motion condemning power-sharing and the Council of Ireland
. The motion was defeated by 44 votes to 28. Following the Assembly debate, Harry Murray announced to a group of journalists that a general strike was to start the next day.
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
that took place in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
between 15 May and 28 May 1974, during "The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
". The strike was called by loyalists
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
and unionists
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
who were against the Sunningdale Agreement
Sunningdale Agreement
The Sunningdale Agreement was an attempt to establish a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive and a cross-border Council of Ireland. The Agreement was signed at the Civil Service College in Sunningdale Park located in Sunningdale, Berkshire, on 9 December 1973.Unionist opposition, violence and...
, which had been signed in December 1973. Specifically, the strikers opposed the sharing of political power with nationalists
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
, and the proposed role for the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's government in running Northern Ireland
The strike was organised and overseen by the Ulster Workers' Council and Ulster Army Council
Ulster Army Council
The Ulster Army Council was set up in 1973 as an umbrella group by the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force to co-ordinate joint paramilitary operations during the Loyalist strike...
, which were formed shortly after the Agreement's signing. Both of these groups included loyalist paramilitaries
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
such as the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
(UDA) and Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). These groups helped to enforce the strike by blocking roads and intimidating workers. During the two-week strike, loyalist paramilitaries killed 39 civilians, of which 33 died in the Dublin and Monaghan bombings
Dublin and Monaghan Bombings
The Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974 were a series of car bombings in Dublin and Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland. The attacks killed 33 civilians and wounded almost 300 – the highest number of casualties in any single day during the conflict known as The Troubles.A loyalist...
.
The strike succeeded in bringing down the power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly (1973)
The Northern Ireland Assembly was a legislative assembly set up by the Government of the United Kingdom on 3 May 1973 to restore devolved government to Northern Ireland with the power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive made up of unionists and nationalists....
and Executive
Northern Ireland Executive (1974)
After the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of 1973, negotiations between the pro-agreement parties on the formation of a "power-sharing Executive" began. The most contentious issues were internment, policing and the question of a Council of Ireland....
. Responsibility for the government of Northern Ireland then reverted to the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
at Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
under the arrangements for 'Direct Rule'.
The successful strike was later described by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
, Merlyn Rees
Merlyn Rees, Baron Merlyn-Rees
Merlyn Rees, later Merlyn Merlyn-Rees, Baron Merlyn-Rees, PC was a Welsh-born Labour party Member of Parliament from 1963 until 1992, having served as Home Secretary...
, as an "outbreak of Ulster nationalism
Ulster nationalism
Ulster nationalism is the name given to a school of thought in Northern Irish politics that seeks the independence of Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom without becoming part of the Republic of Ireland, thereby becoming an independent sovereign state separate from England, Scotland and Wales...
".
14 May
There was a debate in the Northern Ireland AssemblyNorthern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
on a motion condemning power-sharing and the Council of Ireland
Council of Ireland
The Council of Ireland may refer to one of two councils, one established in the 1920s, the other in the 1970s.-Council of Ireland :...
. The motion was defeated by 44 votes to 28. Following the Assembly debate, Harry Murray announced to a group of journalists that a general strike was to start the next day.
15 May
Day one of the strike- The strike had a slow start with many workers simply going to work anyway, but after a number of workplace meetings, workers began leaving their workplaces after lunchtime By the end of day one, the port of LarneLarneLarne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
was sealed off. Roads were being blocked by hijacked vehicles. Electricity supplies were also disrupted when workers at the Ballylumford power stationBallylumford power stationBallylumford power station is a natural gas-fired power station in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. With its main plant generating 600 megawatts of electricity, it is Northern Ireland's largest power station and provides half of the country's power. Overall the station produces 1316MW...
went on strike. The power cuts forced some factories to close and send workers home. - The UWC issued a statement that it would ensure that essential services would continue.
- During the evening there was a meeting at Stormont CastleStormont CastleStormont Castle is a baronial mansion on the Stormont Estate in east Belfast which is used as the main meeting place of the Northern Ireland Executive....
between Stanley OrmeStanley Orme, Baron OrmeStanley Orme, Baron Orme PC was a British Labour Party politician. He was a Member of Parliament from 1964 to 1997, and served as a cabinet minister in the 1970s.-Early life:Stan Orme was born in Sale, Cheshire...
(then Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office), three Northern Ireland politicians, three members of the UWC and three loyalist paramilitary leaders. The paramilitary leaders, who brought guns to the meeting, were present as 'observers'. - The British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
captured two Official Irish Republican Army (Official IRA) volunteers whilst planting a landmine at Ballyholland, County Down. The two men, Colman Rowntree and Martin McAlinden, were shot dead shortly thereafter.
16 May
Day two of the strike- The strike began to affect the farming sector with uncollected, or unprocessed, milk having to be dumped and fresh food not reaching shops. The UWC issued a list of 'essential services' that would be allowed to run as normal and also issued a telephone number for anyone engaged in such work. The UWC also ordered public houses to close.
- The strike was the main subject of Northern Ireland 'question time' in the British House of CommonsBritish House of CommonsThe House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
at Westminster. Paddy DevlinPaddy DevlinPaddy Devlin was a Northern Irish social democrat and Labour activist, a former Stormont MP, a founder of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and a member of the 1974 Power Sharing Executive.-Early life:...
, a member of the Executive, threatened to resign on the issue of internment. - Merlyn Rees, the then Secretary of State for Northern IrelandSecretary of State for Northern IrelandThe Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
, met with loyalist leaders in StormontParliament of Northern IrelandThe Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, which sat from 7 June 1921 to 30 March 1972, when it was suspended...
and said that he would not negotiate with the UWC. - A Catholic civilian, Maureen Moore, was shot dead by a loyalist sniper as she stood at the corner of Stratheden Street and Edlingham Street in Belfast.
17 May
Day three of the strike- Dublin and Monaghan bombingsDublin and Monaghan BombingsThe Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974 were a series of car bombings in Dublin and Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland. The attacks killed 33 civilians and wounded almost 300 – the highest number of casualties in any single day during the conflict known as The Troubles.A loyalist...
– the UVF exploded four car bombCar bombA car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
s in the Republic of Ireland. The attacks killed 33 civilians and wounded almost 300 – the highest number of casualties in any single day during "the Troubles". No warnings were given before the bombs were detonated. Three exploded in Dublin during rush hourRush hourA rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
(killing 26 people and an unborn child) and one exploded in Monaghan ninety minutes later (killing 7 people). Most of the victims were young women, although the ages of the dead ranged from five months to 80 years. There are allegations that British Intelligence colluded in the bombings. - Sammy Smyth, then press officer of both the UDA and the UWC Strike Committee, said
I am very happy about the bombings in Dublin. There is a war with the [Republic of Ireland] and now we are laughing at them.
- Postal delivery services came to a halt following intimidation of Royal MailRoyal MailRoyal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
workers. - Special arrangements were made by the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that payments of welfare benefits would be delivered to claimants.
18 May
Day four of the strike- The UWC issued a statement calling for an all-out stoppage to begin at midnight on Sunday 19 May.
- Members of the Northern Ireland Executive were told that the British Army could not run the power stations on their own.
- A member of the UDA shot dead UVF member Joseph Shaw during a fight in North Star Bar on North Queen Street, Belfast.
19 May
Day five of the strike- Merlyn Rees (Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) announced a State of Emergency. Rees flew to ChequersChequersChequers, or Chequers Court, is a country house near Ellesborough, to the south of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England, at the foot of the Chiltern Hills...
for talks with British Prime Minister Harold WilsonHarold WilsonJames Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
. - The United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC) met and agreed to support the strike.
- The UWC withdrew its call for a total stoppage as of midnight.
20 May
Day six of the strike- The British Government sent an extra 500 troops to Northern Ireland.
- Electricity generation dropped to about one-third of normal levels. People were asked only to use telephones in an emergency.
- The UDA shot dead a Catholic civilian, Michael Mallon, and dumped his body by the side of Milltown Road in Belfast.
21 May
Day seven of the strike- Len Murray, the then General Secretary of the Trades Union Council (TUC), led a 'back-to-work' march but it drew only 200 people. The march was flanked by the Royal Ulster ConstabularyRoyal Ulster ConstabularyThe Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC) and British Army but a crowd of loyalists still managed to attack some of the marchers. - In a speech at Westminster, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson attacked the strike. He said that it was a "sectarian strike" and was "being done for sectarian purposes".
22 May
Day eight of the strike- In an attempt to resolve the strike the Northern Ireland Executive agreed to postpone certain parts of the Sunningdale Agreement until 1977 and to reduce the size of the Council of Ireland. These proposals were rejected by UWC leaders. The British Government repeated their stance on not negotiating with the UWC.
23 May
Day nine of the strike- Gerry FittGerry FittGerard Fitt, Baron Fitt was a politician in Northern Ireland. He was a founder and the first leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party , a social democratic and Irish nationalist party.-Early years:...
, the then Deputy Chief Executive, called on the British Government to send troops to the power stations and the oil refineries.
24 May
Day ten of the strike- Talks were held at Chequers (the country home of the British Prime Minister) involving Harold Wilson, Brian Faulkner (the Chief Executive), Gerry Fitt (the Deputy Chief Executive) and Oliver Napier (the Legal Minister and Head of the Office of Law Reform). A statement was issued after the talks, which stated that there would be no negotiations with those who operated outside constitutional politics.
- The UDA shot dead two Catholic civilians, Sean Byrne and his brother Brendan Byrne, at their pub The Wayside Halt near BallymenaBallymenaBallymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
, County AntrimCounty AntrimCounty Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
.
25 May
Day eleven of the strike- Harold Wilson made a broadcast on television. Wilson controversially referred to the strikers and the strike's leaders as "spongers".
- A Catholic civilian, Alfred Stilges, was found beaten to death in an empty house on Forthriver Road in Belfast. The attack was blamed on loyalists.
26 May
Day twelve of the strike- The British Army arrested more than 30 men in raids on loyalist areas of Belfast.
- The UWC claimed that its system of permits was working well in maintaining 'essential services', particularly the supply of petrol.
27 May
Day thirteen of the strike- The British Army took charge of 21 petrol stations throughout Northern Ireland. These petrol stations were to supply petrol to essential users who could be given a permit from the Ministry of Commerce.
- The UWC retaliated following the takeover of the petrol stations. It announced that the British Army would have to undertake the supply of all essential services, including basics such as bread and milk. There was a call issued for workers to stop helping in the provision of essential services. The UWC also stated that the Ballylumford power station would close at midnight.
- Gas supplies to Belfast and other outlying districts were affected by a drop in pressure and a warning was issued that consumers should switch off their supply at the mains.
28 May
Day fourteen of the strike- The crisis came to a head. Brian FaulknerBrian FaulknerArthur Brian Deane Faulkner, Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC was the sixth and last Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from March 1971 until his resignation in March 1972...
resigned as Chief Executive following a refusal by Merlyn Rees to meet with the UWC. Faulkner's unionist colleagues also resigned. This effectively marked the end of the Northern Ireland Executive. - Farmers in tractors blocked the entrance to the Stormont parliament buildings and also much of the Upper Newtownards Road in east Belfast. News of the Executive's collapse spread to the protestors and celebrations took place in unionist and loyalist areas across Northern Ireland.
30 May
The Northern Ireland Assembly was prorogued (it was officially dissolved on 29 March 1975).Quotes
The fifteen unprecedented, historic days in which a million British citizens, the Protestants of Northern Ireland, staged what amounted to a rebellion against the Crown and won... During those fifteen days, for the first time in over fifty years... a section of the realm became totally ungovernable. A self-elected provisional government of Protestant power workers, well-armed private armies and extreme politicians organized a strike which almost broke up the fabric of civilized life in Ulster. They deprived most of the population for much of the time of food, water, electricity, gas, transport, money and any form of livelihood. — journalist Robert FiskRobert FiskRobert Fisk is an English writer and journalist from Maidstone, Kent. As Middle East correspondent of The Independent, he has primarily been based in Beirut for more than 30 years. He has published a number of books and has reported on the United States's war in Afghanistan and the same country's...
, in his book The Point of No Return: The Strike Which Broke the British in Ulster
Here was an instance of a working-class movement which had resolved to achieve a political objective by means of a general strike. ... By the beginning of the second week of the strike, support for it had spread throughout all classes of the Protestant community. Bank managers and suburban golf club secretaries cheered the strikers on. The atmosphere recalled that of Britain in 1940. ... The whole operation was conducted...with the utmost discipline and efficiency. The strikers virtually took over the task of government. They enforced a petrol rationing scheme and issued passes to those permitted to go to work. They collected and distributed food, carrying with them the farmers who willingly bore severe financial losses in the process. Their public service announcements were read out on the BBC's Ulster Service each morning. Inevitably, there were instances of brutality, theft and peculation, but the prevailing spirit was one of dignified patriotic protest. — journalist T. E. UtleyT. E. UtleyThomas Edwin 'Peter' Utley CBE was an English High Tory journalist.Utley, blind since his childhood, went to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he achieved a double first in History. During the Second World War, he was a Times leader writer and then worked for the Observer and the Sunday Times...
, Lessons of Ulster (1975)
See also
- Ulster Says NoUlster Says NoUlster Says No was the name of a slogan, campaign and mass protest against foreign interference by the Republic of Ireland in the internal affairs of the United Kingdom, specifically that of Northern Ireland...
- Timeline of Ulster Defence Association actionsTimeline of Ulster Defence Association actionsThis is a timeline of actions by the Ulster Defence Association , a loyalist paramilitary group formed in 1971. Most of these actions took place during the conflict known as "the Troubles" in Northern Ireland....
- Timeline of Ulster Volunteer Force actionsTimeline of Ulster Volunteer Force actionsThis is a timeline of actions by the Ulster Volunteer Force , a loyalist paramilitary group formed in 1966. It includes actions carried out by the Red Hand Commando , a group integrated into the UVF shortly after their formation in 1972. It also includes attacks claimed by the Protestant Action...
External links
- Key Events - Ulster Workers' Council (UWC) Strike — from the CAIN project at the University of UlsterUniversity of UlsterThe University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...