100 Years On: Why the General Strike still matters
In May 1926, Britain witnessed one of the most significant events in its industrial and political history. Around 1.7 million workers withdrew their labour in solidarity with miners facing pay cuts and longer hours, bringing the country to a halt
One hundred years later, the General Strike remains a defining moment for the trade union movement and continues to offer important lessons for workers today.
Throughout 2026, trade unions, museums, historians and campaigners have been marking the centenary through exhibitions, theatre productions, documentaries and public events. The anniversary has prompted renewed discussion about workers' power, solidarity and the lasting legacy of collective action.
A century of lessons
The centenary of the General Strike is about more than commemorating a historic dispute. It is an opportunity to remember the courage and solidarity shown by workers across the country, reflect on the challenges they faced and consider the lessons their experiences continue to offer.
Through theatre, exhibitions, documentaries and public discussion, the story of the 1926 General Strike remains alive. One hundred years on, it continues to remind us that collective action can shape history — and that understanding our movement's past remains essential to building its future.
The strike that shook Britain
The General Strike began on 3 May, 1926 after negotiations over miners' pay and conditions collapsed. Workers from a wide range of industries joined the action in support of mining communities, creating an unprecedented display of solidarity across the labour movement. For nine days, transport networks, newspapers and many industries were severely disrupted as workers demonstrated their collective strength. King George V declared a state of emergency as the government mobilised to maintain services and resist the strike.
One of the most famous stories from the strike is that of the Cramlington Train Wreckers. A group of Northumberland miners attempted to derail what they believed was a coal train being used to undermine the strike. Instead, they accidentally derailed the Flying Scotsman carrying 281 passengers. No one was killed and only one person suffered a minor injury, but eight men received prison sentences of up to eight years. Following public campaigns and pressure from trade unionists, politicians and members of the judiciary, the men were released early and welcomed home as heroes. Their story is now being retold through a touring theatre production.
Read playwright Ed Waugh’s blog explaining the inspiration for his play The Cramlington Train Wreckers about the 1926 General Strike, which is on at Newcastle Theatre Royal on Sunday (12 July).
Why labour history matters
Speaking at the PCS Culture Group Annual Conference in May, labour historian Mary Davis described the General Strike as one of the most significant events of the twentieth century. While recognising the extraordinary solidarity demonstrated by workers, she argued that the strike was ultimately defeated because of the state's determined response.
According to Davis, governments and institutions made "intense and meticulous" preparations to ensure militant trade unionism was defeated. Understanding that history, she argued, remains essential for today's trade unionists. Every gain won through collective action improves workers' lives and strengthens confidence that meaningful change is possible.
Preserving the history
A number of exhibitions are helping to tell the story of the General Strike and its impact on communities across Britain.
When Britain Stood Still: The General Strike at 100
8 May – 18 October 2026
Philip Robinson Library, Newcastle University
Drawing on documents, photographs and oral histories, this exhibition explores how workers, politicians and trade unionists responded to the strike, and how its opponents organised against it.
2 May 2026 – 17 January 2027
Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne
This free exhibition explores the impact of the General Strike and the support given to locked-out miners during one of the most dramatic episodes in British labour history.
A Great Betrayal? One Hundred Years On
1 May – 31 December 2026
Working Class Movement Library, Salford
Featuring archive material and objects from the library's unique collection, this exhibition traces the story of the strike from its origins through the nine days of action and its legacy. It also explores the stories of individuals imprisoned for their involvement, including Bill Muckle, one of the Cramlington miners.
Voices from the past
A newly-discovered documentary is also helping bring the experiences of 1926 to modern audiences.
The General Strike – A Revolution Betrayed? was originally produced in the early 1970s and features rare first-hand accounts from people who lived through the strike. Recently unearthed and made available by Platform Films, the documentary offers a vivid insight into both the hopes and frustrations of workers involved in the dispute. According to the filmmakers, it reveals how close many participants felt Britain came to significant social and political change.
The film can be viewed via an online link – or on memory stick or DVD – priced at £20 fro individuals and £60 for institutions. For screening information, contact: [email protected]
Timeline of the General Strike
- April, 1926 – Coal owners post notices announcing drastic wage reductions and the end of national agreements after a temporary government subsidy expires.
- 30 April – King George V declares a state of emergency.
- 1 May – The lockout of the miners officially begins.
- 3 May – General Strike begins.
- 5 May – The government begins printing its own propaganda newspaper, the British Gazette, edited by Winston Churchill. The TUC responds by publishing their own bulletin, the British Worker
- 10 May – Cramlington Train Wreckers incident.
- 11 May – Sir Herbert Samuel (former chairman of the Royal Commission on the Coal Industry) proposes a compromise to reorganize the coal industry and establish a temporary wage board, but this is rejected by both the miners and the mine owners.
- 12 May– The TUC capitulates and unconditionally calls off the strike after nine day, fearing the escalation of the conflict and potential legal repercussions.