Leicester’s Industrial Action – 100 Years Ago
I read with interest the article that appeared in the March edition of the Kibworth & District Chronicle concerning the General Strike of 1926, and it prompted me to send in what I have been told is a rare piece of paperwork relating to this significant episode in Leicester’s history.
It reveals the impact felt by the city on the first day of the ‘Great Strike’. The article emanated from the Leicester Mail newspaper dated Wednesday May 5th 1926 and records the timetable of events in their emergency edition.
Apparently, the Unions relented on May 13th and the 12,000 Leicester workers taking part went back to work, mainly down the pits, in factories and on the trains.
In the long run the General Strike seemed to make little difference to the status quo.
It was interesting to note that 100 years ago the newspaper only cost one penny (ld in old money) as opposed to £2.40 today!
Glyn Hatfield
Street Names of Kibworth
