Red Clydeside During the War

Red Clydeside During the War

• Between 1915 and 1919 parts of Glasgow and its surrounding area became known as ‘Red Clydeside’ • Glasgow and Clydeside seemed to be on the brink of revolution as a series of strikes and bad tempered demonstrations convinced the Government that militant Bolsheviks in Scotland were about to rise as one and bring down Capitalism

• During the War women had taken to the streets to protest against rent increases. • Red Clydeside is central to Scotland’s experience during the First World War. • Many involved in the heavy industry either as workers or trade union leaders • Both Trade Unionists and anti-war campaigners wanted higher pay and to preserve their trades

Prologue • Glasgow workforce saw a huge influx of highland Irish Immigrants owing to the Industrial nature of its Industry • Introduction of Mass Production techniques were changing factories in Glasgow • Powerful trade unions, particularly in the skilled engineering industries • Had a tradition of helping people in need in Glasgow

• Sense of injustice at how the Working Class in Glasgow did not benefit from their hard work. • Glasgow area saw growth of Socialist and Labour-based organisations such as ILP • Increasing industrial unrest pre-war

• There were TWO distinct phases to Red Clydeside: the incidents which took place during Wartime and the post-war strikes and confrontations in early 1919.

1. Engineers • Confrontation between engineers and the Ministry of Munitions over the issue of Dilution and also by the rent strikes • Took place against the wider context of the emergence of an anti-war and pro-peace movement within the city • The city soon became the focus for the largest and most vocal working class opposition to the war experienced in wartime Britain. • Under DORA strikes were officially forbidden during the war.

2. ‘Tuppence’ an hour • January 1915, engineers in Glasgow threatened to go on strike unless their claim for an additional two pence ‘tuppence’ was met – why? 1. Rise in cost of living 2. Fear of losing their position as skilled workers 3. American workers were paid more than Scottish workers 4. Engineers also felt employers were taking advantage of the war, making inflated profits

Continued. . • A strike was called on 15 February and although it was settled a fortnight later • Clydeside found itself with a reputation for militancy and battle lines had been drawn between the workforce and the Government • 10, 000 workers/members involved • The action, including the 1915 rent strikes, had the broad support of several groups of the Left (ILP, suffragettes, Glasgow Trades council) and paved the way for future confrontation

3. Leaving Certificate System • In the summer of 1915 there were two strikes at the Fairfield yard (shipyard) over the leaving certificate system • Regulated workers leaving one job and getting another • Those striking against the measure believed the system could be used to prevent free movement of Labour • The strike leaders were fined £ 10 as punishment • Those who refused to pay were sent to prison • Led to further escalations

4. Dilution • Problem throughout the war • Early in 1916 the Government acted to enforce dilution – Dilution meant the use of unskilled workers to do parts of a job that had previously had only been done by skilled workers • Reaction of skilled labour to the introduction of unskilled workers to do their job largely negative

Continued. . • David Lloyd George visited Glasgow on Christmas Day 1915, he was heckled and jeered by workers & unionists • The Clyde Workers’ Committee (CWC) was determined to oppose the introduction of unskilled labour • Engineers were extremely conscious of their position in society and proud of the fact that they had worked long and hard to attain their status as craftsmen. • Not only did this threaten their privileged positions within the workplace, their were well-grounded fears that the wartime emergency measures would be continued in peacetime and that in the long term they would be the losers.

5. Conscription • As mentioned before in this topic • ILP and other groups had campaigned against conscription • Many workers saw yet another threat to jobs • They felt workers would be conscripted and be sent back to the factories to work but this time under direct government control • Strikes occurred, Government took strong action and public opinion supported the Government • Newspapers described the strikers as greedy, ignorant and selfish.

Key Trade Union Leaders & Socialists • Willie Gallacher – William Gallacher : Biography • David Kirkwood - David Kirkwood Biography • John Maclean – John Maclean Biography

• Why do you think strikes against conscriptions did not gain public support?

• 1917 and 1918 the area of Glasgow and Clydeside was relatively calm.