Question 1
Using these four sources in their historical context, assess how far they support the view that relations between the Government and the workforce were cordial during the First World War.
Source A: The Minister for Munitions appeals to workers and trade unions in Liverpool for their support to increase the manufacture of munitions.
Many trade union regulations and practices, in particular those rules which make it difficult for unskilled men to claim the position and rights of skilled men, have to be suspended. Even if all the skilled engineers in this country and those at the Front were worked to the utmost limits of human endurance, you have not enough labour even then to produce all we are going to ask you to produce in the next few months. Therefore, we must appeal to the patriotism of the unions to relax these particular rules to enable us to turn out the necessary munitions of war to win a real and speedy triumph.
David Lloyd George, speech, 14 June 1915
Source B: A miners’ leader complains about the agreement between the government and trade unions.
The chloroforming pill of patriotism is failing in its power to drug the mind and consciousness of the worker. The chains of slavery are being welded tighter upon us. The ruling classes are over-reaching themselves in their hurry to enslave us. Comrades, I appeal to you to rouse your unions to protect the liberties of its members. An industrial truce was entered into by our leaders behind our backs. Away with the industrial truce! We must not stand by and allow the workers to be exploited and our liberties taken away.
A. J. Cook, speech, April 1916
Source C: Four of the 14 points, submitted by those who investigated a recent period of industrial unrest, list the main complaints of the workers.
(1) High food prices in relation to wages.
(2) Restrictions of personal freedom and the effects of the Munitions of War Acts. Workmen have been tied to particular factories and have been unable to obtain wages in relation to their skill. In many cases, the skilled man’s wages is less than the wage of the unskilled.
(3) Lack of confidence in the Government. This is due to the surrender of Trade Union customs and the feeling that promises as regards their restoration will not be kept.
(4) Delay in settlement of disputes. In some instances, 10 weeks have elapsed without a settlement, and after a strike has taken place, the matter has been put right within a few days.
Commission of Enquiry into Industrial Unrest, report, July 1917
Source D: A Conservative MP, who served in the Ministry of Labour, records his frustrations with two ministers in the government for the way they handled labour issues.
Winston Churchill gave a 12.5% rise of wages to mine workers which led to others demanding the same. The Ministry of Labour opposed his plan but he managed to stampede the War Cabinet into agreeing to it. The result was a real muddle that the Ministry of Labour had to clear up. Some time ago Lloyd George made a great mistake by treating the Amalgamated Society of Engineers as a privileged body among the Unions in giving them power to give exemptions from military service to their members. They were also too gently dealt with in the strike in May 1917.
William Bridgeman, diary, February 1918
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