This page intentionally left blank In this important contribution to the study of industrial relations, Roy Church and Quentin Outram present new research into the strike activity of British coalminers since the late nineteenth century. The authors consider not only the major national strikes and lock-outs which have made the industry a byword for industrial militancy, but also the multitude of small- scale strikes which have formed the routine of British colliery industrial relations. Strikes and solidarity is multi-disciplinary in approach and views the industrial relations history of the industry from the perspectives offered by sociologists, industrial relations specialists and economists, as well as social and economic historians. Assessed in the comparative context of the American, French and German experience, the authors' findings are also given an international dimension. Church and Outram have successfully blended quantitative and qualitative investigations to form a new explana- tion for the long-standing issues presented by the industrial relations of the industry. Strikes and solidarity Strikes and solidarity Coalfield conflict in Britain 1889-1966 ROY CHURCH AND QUENTIN OUTRAM CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS PUBLISHED BY THE PRESS SYNDICATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK 40 West 20th Street, New York NY 10011 -4211, USA 477 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia Ruiz de Alarcon 13,28014 Madrid, Spain Dock House, The Waterfront, Cape Town 8001, South Africa http://www.cambridge.org © Cambridge University Press 1998 This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 1998 First paperback edition 2002 Typeface Plantin 9.5/12 pt. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Church, Roy A. Strikes and solidarity: coalfield conflict in Britain 1889-1966 / Roy Church and Quentin Outram p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0 521 55460 8 (hb) 1. Strikes and lockout - Coal mining - Great Britain - History. 2. Trade-unions - Coal miners - Great Britain - History. 3. Solidarity. I. Outram, Quentin. II. Title. HD5365.M615C48 1998 331.892/822334/0941-dc21 97-12821 CIP ISBN 0 52155460 8 hardback ISBN 0 521 89403.4 paperback To Wendy and to H. L. B. J.