National Unemployed Workers' Movement
Encyclopedia
The National Unemployed Workers' Movement was a British
organisation set up in 1921 by members of the Communist Party of Great Britain
. It aimed to draw attention to the plight of unemployed workers during the post World War I
slump, the 1926 General Strike and later the Great Depression
, and to fight the Means Test
.
The NUWM became the foremost body responsible for organising the unemployed on a national basis in the interwar period
, these years being characterised by high levels of unemployment. A central element of its activities was a series of hunger marches
to London, organised in 1922, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1934 and 1936. The largest of these was the National Hunger March, 1932
, that was followed by days of serious violence across central London with 75 people being badly injured, which in turn led directly to the formation of the National Council for Civil Liberties
.
To the dismay of many within the wider labour movement, the Labour Party
and the official trades union bodies offered little support to the legions of unemployed workers during this period. The Trades Union Congress
and the National Executive Council advised Labour parties and trades councils along the route of the Jarrow Crusade not to help the marchers, although local branches were more generous.
The NUWM was founded by Wal Hannington
, and led in Scotland by Harry McShane
. From 1921 until 1929 it was called the National Unemployed Workers' Committee Movement. It suspended activity in 1939, at the outbreak of World War II
, and the decision of wind it up was taken in 1943. It was finally dissolved in 1946.
Over the years there have been several attempts to revive the union, one of the latest around 1992/1993.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
organisation set up in 1921 by members of the Communist Party of Great Britain
Communist Party of Great Britain
The Communist Party of Great Britain was the largest communist party in Great Britain, although it never became a mass party like those in France and Italy. It existed from 1920 to 1991.-Formation:...
. It aimed to draw attention to the plight of unemployed workers during the post World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
slump, the 1926 General Strike and later the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, and to fight the Means Test
Means test
A means test is a determination of whether an individual or family is eligible for help from the government.- Canada :In Canada means tests are used for student finance , and "welfare" . They are not generally used for primary education and secondary education which are tax-funded...
.
The NUWM became the foremost body responsible for organising the unemployed on a national basis in the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, these years being characterised by high levels of unemployment. A central element of its activities was a series of hunger marches
Hunger marches
The Hunger marches were a series of marches held in the 1930s during The Great Depression in the United Kingdom to protest against hunger and unemployment in the United Kingdom....
to London, organised in 1922, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1934 and 1936. The largest of these was the National Hunger March, 1932
National Hunger March, 1932
The National Hunger March of September–October 1932 was the largest of a series of hunger marches in Britain in the 1920s and 1930s.-Background:...
, that was followed by days of serious violence across central London with 75 people being badly injured, which in turn led directly to the formation of the National Council for Civil Liberties
Liberty (pressure group)
Liberty is a pressure group based in the United Kingdom. Its formal name is the National Council for Civil Liberties . Founded in 1934 by Ronald Kidd and Sylvia Crowther-Smith , the group campaigns to protect civil liberties and promote human rights...
.
To the dismay of many within the wider labour movement, the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and the official trades union bodies offered little support to the legions of unemployed workers during this period. The Trades Union Congress
Trades Union Congress
The Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
and the National Executive Council advised Labour parties and trades councils along the route of the Jarrow Crusade not to help the marchers, although local branches were more generous.
The NUWM was founded by Wal Hannington
Wal Hannington
Walter "Wal" Hannington was a founding member of the Communist Party of Great Britain and National Organiser of the National Unemployed Workers' Movement, from its formation in 1921 to its end in 1939, when he became National Organiser of the Amalgamated Engineering Union.-Political career:In...
, and led in Scotland by Harry McShane
Harry McShane
Harry McShane was a Scottish socialist, and a close colleague of John Maclean. Born into a Roman Catholic family, he became a Marxist...
. From 1921 until 1929 it was called the National Unemployed Workers' Committee Movement. It suspended activity in 1939, at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and the decision of wind it up was taken in 1943. It was finally dissolved in 1946.
Over the years there have been several attempts to revive the union, one of the latest around 1992/1993.