The Strike, Bloody Sunday and spreading of the lockout (Leaving Cert History): Revision Notes

The Strike, Bloody Sunday and spreading of the lockout

• The Dublin Strike and Lockout of 1913-14 marked the peak of worsening industrial relations between the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU) and employers.
• Central figures included James Larkin and William Martin Murphy. By 1913, the ITGWU's growing power was evident.
• Between January and August 1913, the union held 30 strikes in Dublin. Workers were striving to improve their conditions, while employers were increasingly frustrated with the disruptions to trade. By this time, most unskilled workers in Dublin were members of the ITGWU.
• Most workers in the Guinness brewery and the Dublin United Transport Company (DUTC) had not joined the ITGWU.
• Guinness, known for treating its workers well, had a good reputation, which reduced the likelihood of its workers joining unions.
• However, the DUTC had significant discontent among its 1,700 workers, who worked up to 17 hours a day without protection against dismissal.
• William Martin Murphy was a leading businessman in Dublin with interests in various fields. Murphy owned the DUTC, Clerys department store, the Imperial Hotel, and the Irish Independent. Larkin described him as the "most foul and vicious blackguard" who polluted any country.
• Murphy was determined to fight the ITGWU's growing power and warned DUTC workers in July 1913 that they could form their own union but must not join the ITGWU under any circumstances.

Strike

• Larkin knew Murphy was trying to destroy the ITGWU and believed strike action was necessary. On 26 August 1913, during Horse Show Week, the ITGWU members in the DUTC went on strike.
• This busy time for the tramway company ensured maximum publicity and disruption, hoping to embarrass Murphy.
• About 700 workers left their trams that morning and went on strike, though the company claimed only 200 workers participated.
  • Murphy prepared for the strike by employing emergency crews and enlisting the support of the Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), who were brought in from around the country.

• Most trams were up and running again within a few hours. Larkin and other leaders were arrested but released on condition of future good conduct.

'Bloody Sunday'

• A large public ITGWU meeting was planned for 31 August 1913, in Dublin city centre, despite a ban. That evening, violence erupted between strikers and police.
• A large crowd gathered in Sackville Street (now O'Connell Street) to see if Larkin would appear. Disguised, Larkin booked a room in Murphy's Imperial Hotel and appeared on his room's balcony.
• He was arrested within minutes. The police then turned on the crowd, spilling violence onto neighbouring streets.
• The police killed two demonstrators and injured over 400. This incident became known as 'Bloody Sunday'.
• It only deepened the strikers' resolve. Workers from other companies went out on sympathetic strikes, and some refused to handle goods from companies involved in the dispute.
• There was a lot of public support for the strikers, and this made it more difficult for workers such as 'scabs' or 'black legs' to take over the roles of those who were striking. Many of these workers were often intimidated by the strikers.

The Lockout Spreads

• Murphy was determined to crush Larkin and the ITGWU through the strike. On 3 September 1913, he held a meeting of employers, declaring that if the ITGWU won its strike, it would be disastrous for business in Dublin.
• Murphy argued that employers should use the lockout tactic in all their companies. Workers were given an ultimatum: sign a written guarantee to leave the ITGWU, never join it, or face an immediate lockout.
• Over 400 employers agreed, and over 20,000 workers were locked out of their jobs within weeks because they refused to sign.
• Money was provided to employers facing difficulties. Lord Iveagh, the head of Guinness, donated £5,000 to an employers' fund.
• The police protected employers' interests by guarding buildings and escorting strikebreakers.
• This ensured employers always had the upper hand, prolonging the strike and pushing the ITGWU towards financial ruin.

Key Terms Defined

• William Martin Murphy: A prominent Dublin businessman and media mogul who owned several companies, including the Dublin United Transport Company (DUTC), Clery's department store, the Imperial Hotel, and the Irish Independent. He was a leading figure in opposing trade unions and played a central role in the 1913 Dublin Lockout.
• Dublin United Transport Company (DUTC): A major transport company in Dublin, primarily responsible for operating the city's tram system. During the 1913 Lockout, the DUTC became a focal point of the industrial dispute between employers and the ITGWU.
• Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP): The primary police force in Dublin until 1925, responsible for maintaining law and order. During the 1913 Lockout, the DMP played a significant role in suppressing the strikers and supporting the employers.
• Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC): The police force covering all of Ireland outside Dublin and Belfast. During the 1913 Lockout, RIC officers were brought into Dublin to assist the DMP in managing the strikes and maintaining public order.
• Sympathetic Strike: A strike by workers who are not directly involved in a dispute, taken in solidarity with other striking workers. During the 1913 Lockout, many workers engaged in sympathetic strikes to support the ITGWU and its members.
• Lockout: An action employers take to prevent workers from entering the workplace, often used to force workers to accept certain conditions or abandon union activities. In 1913, employers in Dublin used lockouts extensively to break the ITGWU's influence and force workers to renounce their union membership.
• Lord Iveagh: Edward Cecil Guinness, the 1st Earl of Iveagh, was the head of the Guinness brewery. He supported the employers' stance during the 1913 Lockout by donating £5,000 to the employers' fund to help sustain their efforts against the ITGWU.