how the unemployed movement got off the ground.
Less than two years after the end of the imperialist carnage of the Great War, the promises of a "Land fit for Heroes were looking decidedly thin. By the autumn of 1920 there were nearly two million unemployed.
Soon the first forms of organised resistance began to appear - • COI!mittees of Unemployed Ex-Servicemen'. Generally they confined their activity to charity-type protests within their own areas. But as unemployment grew, the 'natural"
In this series of articles BOB PENNINGTON examines what happened to the unemployed movement of the 1920s and 1930s, and what lessons it holds for us today. In the first part below, he discusses the stormy days of the early post-war period and wanted a nationally organised movement that would challenge the GovThe idea that we have to stand together' and 'stop begging and start fighting' gained increasing support. by late I›zu me wole or London was organised under the London District Council for the unemployed and twice a week delegates from 31 London boroughs met to discuss the co-ordination of their activity.
Meanwhile the socialists and militants in the unemployed movement fought for united action by the whole working class. The London District Council supported the miners against the employers' lockout in April 1921, and carried a resolution pledging support for the splendid stand' which the miners 'are making on behalf of the whole of the workers".
Pay cuts
The London District Council also organised action at the Central Aircraft Factory in Kilburn, where workers were taking pay cuts and working overtime. After a lightning occupation by 30 unemployed chauchec.
on the workhouse.
The need for a national organisaSupported by the Daily the old benefits.
Movement the struggles of the unemployed, the Meanwhile the Government starton 30 June The response of the unemployed organisations in Battersea and Wandsworth was to take up this Over 200 workers and their families accepted the tickets, and headed by a band they marched At the sight of 700 people - the total number of workers and their dependants - descending on the workhouse, the authorities were thrown into a panic.
Immediately the new 'inmates' started a battle about better food complained about conditions, and demanded improvements. The next night, as workers from the area thronged the streets adjoining the workhouse, the militant inmates hoisted a red flag over the workhouse. Night after night solidarity demonstrations took place outside. ings. ference. In contrast to the first conference, representatives came this time from as far away as ScotThe conference unanimously agreed to set up a national organisation consisting of local branches. i nere would be district committees and a national administrative coun cil consisting of delegates from the district committees.
Its programme made it clear that the demand for Work or Full Maintenance setade mo raes was to be its main thrust. Besides raising demands like three meals a day, weekends and holidays included, to children of unemployed parents', it also called for "free unconditional provision of halls to enable the unemployed to meet and the use of public parks and recreation grounds for public meetImmediately after the conference big demonstrations were held all