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British miners strike for 8 hour working day

Coal miners in South Wales staged a major strike in 1910-1911 over wages and working conditions, culminating in violent confrontations with police and the deployment of military forces.

Coal miners in South Wales staged a major strike in 1910-1911 over wages and working conditions, culminating in violent confrontations with police and the deployment of military forces. The strike began as a dispute over payment rates for working a difficult coal seam at the Ely Pit in Penygraig but escalated into one of the most significant labour conflicts in Welsh history.

The strike formed part of the broader Great Unrest period (1910-1914), during which Britain experienced over 4,000 strikes involving approximately four million workers. This unprecedented wave of industrial militancy saw trade union membership grow by 62 per cent from 2.5 million in 1910 to 4.1 million in 1914, with workplace density increasing from 14.6 per cent to 23 per cent.

Historical Significance

Coal miners in South Wales staged a major strike in 1910-1911 over wages and working conditions, culminating in violent confrontations with police and the deployment of military forces.

Events Before

  1. American Robert Fowler runs the then-world-record marathon (2:52:45.4) at Yonkers, New York

    American Robert Fowler runs the then-world-record marathon (2:52:45.4) at Yonkers, New York

  2. Stepan Bandera is born

    Stepan Bandera, Greek ukrainian nationalist leader, known for ukrainian nationalist leader, was born on 1909-01-01.

  3. Ernest Shackleton, as part of the British Nimrod Expedition, reaches a record farthest southern latitude of 88°23' south

    Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (15 February 1874 – 5 January 1922) was an Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic.

  4. Russian military forces invade northern Persia to support Mohammad Ali Shah's coup d'état against the constitutional gov

    Russian military forces invade northern Persia to support Mohammad Ali Shah's coup d'état against the constitutional government in Persia and relieve the siege of Tabriz

  5. Mien Wenneker, Dutch prince Henry's lover, weds Uncle Cornelis Abbo

    Mien Wenneker, Dutch prince Henry's lover, weds Uncle Cornelis Abbo

Events After

  1. Hank Greenberg is born

    Hank Greenberg, American athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1911-01-01.

  2. Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

    Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

  3. British PM Neville Chamberlain (41) weds Anne de Vere Cole

    British PM Neville Chamberlain (41) weds Anne de Vere Cole

  4. American actress Hattie McDaniel (16) weds pianist Howard Hickman (30) in Denver, Colorado

    American actress Hattie McDaniel (16) weds pianist Howard Hickman (30) in Denver, Colorado

  5. Actress Mae West (17) weds fellow vaudevillian Frank Wallace (21) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Actress Mae West (17) weds fellow vaudevillian Frank Wallace (21) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

More from the 1910s

birth

Hank Greenberg is born

Hank Greenberg, American athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1911-01-01.

Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

The US Post Office begins parcel post delivery

The Bronx General Post Office (also known as the Bronx Central Post Office or Bronx Central Annex) is a historic post office building at 558 Grand Concourse in the South Bronx in New York City, New…

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 3, 1910?
Coal miners in South Wales staged a major strike in 1910-1911 over wages and working conditions, culminating in violent confrontations with police and the deployment of military forces. The strike began as a dispute over payment rates for working a difficult coal seam at the Ely Pit in Penygraig but escalated into one of the most significant labour conflicts in Welsh history. The strike formed part of the broader Great Unrest period (1910-1914), during which Britain experienced over 4,000 strikes involving approximately four million workers.
Why is British miners strike for 8 hour working day significant?
Coal miners in South Wales staged a major strike in 1910-1911 over wages and working conditions, culminating in violent confrontations with police and the deployment of military forces.

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January 3 in HistoryYear 1910