Twentieth Century Workers' Rights Archives

Twentieth Century Workers' Rights Stories

Black people's support of the miners' strike of 1984-85

The remarkable story of Black and Asian solidarity on and off the picket lines in the 1984-85 miners' strike.

Leaflet calling for Black community support for striking miners and advertising a solidarity visit to Kent mining villages during the 1984-85 miners' strike. An image of a miner looking determined is printed in red on the left hand side.

Twentieth Century Workers' Rights Spotlight

'Little Moscow': One family and the General Strike

A source-rich local study of the General Strike through a radical family in a radical village.

A black-and-white historical photograph of seven working-class men standing outdoors in front of a brick wall, posing before a very large trade union banner. The banner reads

Twentieth Century Workers' Rights Sources

Jack Forshaw: Dying for the General Strike

A source-rich spotlight on one worker's sacrifice and the grassroots publications the government feared in the General Strike.

A grainy, black-and-white historical photograph of a group of striking workers or activists posing outside in front of a metal fence. Two men in suits and hats stand holding up a large fabric banner that reads

Twentieth Century Workers' Rights Sources

Ellen Wilkinson: Communicating the General Strike

A source-rich round-up of the General Strike and its aftermath through the eyes of MP and writer Ellen Wilkinson.

A grainy historical newspaper clipping featuring a group portrait of four men and two women standing outdoors. The men wear formal dark suits and ties, with one holding a light-colored hat. The women wear mid-length coats and cloche hats typical of late 1920s fashion. A headline printed across the top of the photo frame reads:

Twentieth Century Workers' Rights Stories

'The most dangerous man in Britain'

The gripping story of an MP's radicalism, persecution and outspoken commitment to working class rights during the General Strike.

A historical black-and-white studio portrait of an Indian man with dark hair, a high forehead, and a slight smile. He is dressed in formal early-20th-century clothing, including a dark jacket, a white stiff collar shirt, and a wide silk or satin tie. The picture has a coarse, half-tone printing texture typical of old newspaper archival clippings.

Twentieth Century Workers' Rights Stories

The women who sustained the miners' strike

The extraordinary story of women's activism in sustaining the miners' long, cold lockout after the General Strike of 1926.

A grainy, archival black and white photograph showing a group of seven women standing together outdoors. They wear hats and coats typical of the 1920s. Two women on the outer edges hold large sandwich-board style signs, while others hold smaller signs and canisters for donations. The visible text on the signs reads

General Strike Stories

The workers who derailed the Flying Scotsman

The iconic story of the derailment of the Flying Scotsman train during the 1926 General Strike, told through the perspective of the miners who made it happen.

A vintage, sepia-toned studio photograph with a worn, aged border. The portrait shows a young man with combed hair, dressed in a formal dark three-piece suit, white collared shirt, and pattern-knotted tie. A pocket watch chain hangs across his waistcoat, and a pocket square peaks out from his jacket pocket. He stands against a mottled, painted nature backdrop, resting his left hand on the back of a wicker chair.

Campaigns for racial equality Stories

Before Grunwick: Immigrant Workers’ Strikes in Britain

This article offers a longer history of strikes by global majority workers in Britain to show your students that the solidarity seen at Grunwick was hard-won and by no means guaranteed.  

Black and white photograph of an older South Asian woman smiling and raising a clenched fist in solidarity. She holds a large, handwritten protest sign stating