Shop Stewards Movement facts for kids

The Shop Stewards Movement was a group of workers and their representatives, called shop stewards, who came together across the United Kingdom during the First World War. These shop stewards were elected by their fellow workers in factories and workshops. They helped workers deal with their employers and solve problems at work.

What Was the Shop Stewards Movement?

The Shop Stewards Movement started because workers felt their voices were not being heard, especially during the war. Many workers, like engineers, were very important for making weapons and supplies for the war effort.

How Did It Begin?

The movement began with the Clyde Workers Committee in Scotland in 1915. This group was the first of its kind in Britain. They protested when three of their members were put in jail. Most of these workers were part of a large union called the Amalgamated Society of Engineers (ASE).

Later, in November 1916, the Sheffield Workers Committee formed in England. Workers there went on strike because a local engineer was being forced to join the army. The government stopped the strike by saying that skilled union members, like ASE engineers, would not have to join the military.

However, this rule changed in May 1917. When the government decided to make skilled workers join the army, about 200,000 workers in 48 towns went on strike. The Shop Stewards Movement grew stronger as it helped organize this big strike.

Organizing Across the Country

In 1917, the movement created a national group called the Shop Stewards' and Workers' Committees. This group helped connect all the local committees.

Who Were the Leaders?

Important leaders were chosen for this national committee:

• George Peet from Manchester became the secretary.
• Arthur MacManus from the Clyde Workers' Committee became the chair.
• J. T. Murphy from the Sheffield Workers' Committee became the assistant secretary.

Two months after forming, this committee joined with another group that wanted to combine different engineering unions. The Shop Stewards' and Workers' Committees also supported the October Revolution in Russia. George Peet even represented the movement in a group called "Hands Off Russia", which protested against other countries interfering in Russia.

Later Years of the Movement

The movement became less active for a while, but then it gained strength again in 1920.

A New Direction

In 1920, leaders like Willie Gallacher, David Ramsay, Ted Lismer, and J. T. Murphy organized a big meeting for the movement. At this meeting, they decided to join the Communist International (Comintern), which was a worldwide group of communist parties.

Gallacher, Murphy, Ramsay, and Jack Tanner went to a big international meeting called the Second Congress of the Comintern later that year. However, the Comintern did not allow the Shop Stewards Movement to join because it was not a political party.

Willie Gallacher believed that members should stay active in their regular trade unions. So, in September, a compromise was reached. The movement would join a new group called the Red International of Labour Unions, which was for communist trade unions. Also, any members who were also part of the new Communist Party of Great Britain would follow the rules of that party.

Changes and Mergers

In 1921, the Shop Stewards' and Workers' Committee became part of the National Workers' Committee. This new group tried to organize a big national strike on a day known as Black Friday, but it was not successful.

The National Workers' Committee then joined with another group called the British Bureau in 1922. George Peet continued as a joint secretary for a year. After that, the Comintern asked that Gallacher and J. R. Campbell take over from Peet and Lismer as leaders of the movement.