HISTORIC STRIKES.

Shannon News, 7 April 1925, Page 4

HISTORIC STRIKES.

EARLY INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES. The history of great labour strike? and of the development or organisation and trades unionism furnish interesting comparisons between the conditions of, labour in the past and those which obtain in this 20th century (writes G.G. in the “Sydney Daily Telegraph”). Just one hundred years ago—lß24—-laws prohibiting trades and labour unions were repealed in England, and this year, for the first time in her history* England has had a Labour Government—short-livea though it was, B.C. 2170 (about). —Fifty thousand labourers employed on the building of the Great Pyramid (commonly called Cheops) complained of the food fur* nished them, and refused to work. They were cut to pieces by the troops, several thousands being killed. The remainder went back to work. B.C. 601. —Over 30,000 labourers employed by the Chinese Emperor on the embankment of the Hwang-hb river demanded higher wages, and ceased work. Seventeen hundred were beheaded, nnd the rest resumed work.

B.C. 29.—Workmen employed by King Herod to rebuild the temple and place at Jerusalem struck on account of poor food and insufficient pay. He. rod ordered out his Parthian Cavalry, which surrounded and slaughtered all the strikers. Herod was nothing if not thorough! A.D. 64.-—The masons employed by Nero to rebuild Rome, after the destruction of that city by fire, struck for higher wages. They were surrounded In the streets by the Praeto* rian Guards, several hundreds being killed. The rest surrendered. Seventeen were crucified and the remainder returned to work. A.D. 72, —-Many hundreds of Jews who refused to work at building the triumphal arch of Titus were slaughtered by the city garrison of Rome. A.D. 324. —In Constantinople masons employed by contracts to build a church struck for increased wages. The contractors appealed to Constantine, who ordered several of the strike leaders to he hanged before the church, The rest went back to work. A-D. 804. —A strike of workmen employed- by Charlemagne on a palace at Aix.la-ChapeUe was settled in the same way. The men demanded higher; wages. Twenty odd were hanged, and SO were sent to the galleys of Spain. A.D. —1069.—William the Conqueror had trouble with workmen employed to build Hastings Castle. Several were beheaded; the rest were sent to France as slaves. ' 1215.—Magna Charta recognised certain rights of labourers and mechanics. Farm labourers were not to be deprived of their furniture nor their tools seized for debt. 1271.-—Serious riots caused by striking farm labourers at Norwich, England. Many houses weriei burned, including the fine cathedral. Many of the rioters were publicly hanged, their execution being witnessed by the King, 1381. —An insurrection of farm labourers and mechanics led by Wat Tyler was suppressed with great cruelty and wholesale slaughter. 1485. —Great strike in’ Constanlnople. Twenty.six strikers were] hanged, and the remainder drafted into the army.

1539.—Insufficient pay caused a strike of workmen employed in pulling: down a suppressed monastery. Settlement—-hanging and imprisonment. 1563.—At the Palace of the Escurial, Spain, masons struck for higher wages. Seven went sent to. the galleys, the remainder exiled to America. 1625.—Central Chinese strike of tea pickers. Seventy odd were first tortured, then beheaded. 1664.—Labourers on the canal of Languedoc struck for better pay.. Dozens were hanged by order of the nobleman who overseered the job. 1705.-—Peter the Great’s Sliipbuild, ers and sailmakei'3 struck for shorter, hours. Some were hanged, more than 100 sent to Siberia, 250 drafted into the army. 1775.—During the last 25 years of the 18th century many trades unions were formed in England, France ana Germany. 1779.—Laws were passed in Eng-, land prohibiting trades unions. 1809.—The Friendly Society or Ironfounders of England, Wales and Ireland was organised. 1812.—Nottingham (England) great strike and riots. Many mills burnea by strikers. 1824.—The laws prohibiting trades and labour unions were repealed. 1831. Many strikes and great rioting among Welsh iron workers,. Troops fired on the strikers, killing; many. 1832. The Steel Yard Society, the first English trades union, was formed.

1833. —Friendly Society of Operative Stonemasons formed in Englana. 1834. —Unsuccessful strike of calico printers in Glasgow for better pay. 1834.—Great London tailors’ strike, also a failure. 1834. —Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders’ Union of Great Britain form, ed. 1835. —Potters struck in North of England. They got an increase in wages after a long struggle. 1835.—London weavers’ strike against Irish workmen. Terrible riots; many lives lost. 1842. —Many strikes in, Manchester. 1842.- —English legislation for the registration of labour unions. 1844.- —'First English co-operative society formed.