Red Friday facts for kids

Red Friday was a special day in British history. It happened on Friday, July 31, 1925. On this day, the British government agreed to help coal miners. The miners wanted to keep their wages from being cut. The government gave money to the mining industry. This money helped keep miners' pay the same. A newspaper called the Daily Herald named this day 'Red Friday'. It was a big win for the miners. Four years before, a day when miners lost a big fight was called 'Black Friday'. After Red Friday, a much bigger event happened. This was the General Strike of 1926. It took place about nine months later.

Why Miners Were Unhappy

For a long time, coal miners in Britain had many problems. They often had disagreements with their bosses. These disagreements were called 'labour unrest'.

The Triple Alliance

In 1914, three big worker groups joined together. They formed something called the 'Triple Alliance'. These groups were:

• The Miners Federation (for coal miners)
• The Transport and General Workers Union (for transport workers)
• The National Union of Railwaymen (for railway workers)

They promised to help each other during work disputes. But World War I started, so they could not work together right away. During the war, the government took control of the coal mines. Even so, the money miners earned bought less and less. This was because of something called inflation.

After the War

After the war, the government gave back control of the mines. The Triple Alliance started working together again. In 1919, the government set up a special group. This group was to study the mining industry. It suggested that the government should own parts of the mines. But the government did not follow this advice.

Black Friday (1921)

In April 1921, the miners went on strike. They wanted all miners to earn the same pay. But the Triple Alliance did not stay united. The miners had to fight alone. They kept striking until they were too hungry to continue. They went back to work on a day called 'Black Friday'. The mine owners then had more control. Miners' pay dropped by 30% that year.

What Happened on Red Friday

In April 1925, Britain changed its money system. It went back to the gold standard. This made British goods more expensive for other countries to buy. It also made it harder for coal owners to sell coal overseas. Germany was also selling a lot of coal.

Threat of Pay Cuts

On June 30, 1925, the mine owners made a big announcement. They said they would end the current pay agreement. This meant miners' wages would be cut. There would be no national minimum pay. Also, miners would have to work longer hours.

Miners Get Support

Talks began to stop this from happening. But it seemed like a strike or a 'lock-out' (when owners close the mines) was going to happen. The miners got help from the railway workers. The railway workers agreed not to move any coal. This would have stopped coal from reaching factories and homes. If railway workers refused, they would likely lose their jobs. This could have led to a railway strike too.

Government Backs Down

The Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, realized the government was not ready for such a big strike. So, the government decided to give in. They agreed to give money to the coal industry. This money was called a 'subsidy'. It would last for nine months. It helped the mine owners keep wages and working conditions the same. This cost the government £23 million.

What Happened Next

The money from the government was only a short-term fix. The government knew that a big strike was still likely. They started making plans for what to do when the money ran out. They prepared for a possible general strike.