Red Clydeside End of the War and post war

Maclean At the beginning of January 1918 Maclean was appointed by Lenin as the first Bolshevik consul for Scotland. Maclean suffered a good deal of harassment through police raids and interference with his postal services Maclean kept up a steady schedule of addressing meetings in the west of Scotland attacking the war and praising the success of the Bolsheviks Government tried to silence Maclean by arresting him Maclean had a reputation as a trouble maker

Unrest in Glasgow Glasgow witnessed a huge May Day demonstration, attended by around 100,000 people calling for an end to the war

40 hour working week Growing support for a campaign to reduce the working week of 54 hours partly to create jobs for returning soldiers David Lloyd George promised a ‘land fit for heroes’ Most soldiers became disillusioned as they still faced bad housing and unemployment Soldiers and workers wanted change

CWC Suggested a 30 hour working week Compromised on a 40 hour working week Demanded though that the unemployed must be absorbed or ‘further reduction of hours must be demanded’ By Jan 1919 huge support for a strike grew in the area

Monday 27/1/1919 All the big factories came out on strike and support grew

Battle of George Square Workers assembled in George Square Estimated 90,000 people Support for the 40 hour working week campaign and better conditions

The red flag was raised

Police read the Riot Act and strike leaders were attacked The reading of the Riot Act was the traditional method used by police authorities to disperse crowds of protesters. Any persons left loitering with intent after the reading of the Act was liable for arrest.

Gallacher & Kirkwood arrested

Government use of Military Tanks and English soldiers were brought into Glasgow as the Government feared protests would turn into revolution Feared that Scottish Soldiers would not obey orders and join the protestors Running battles between police and demonstrators 6 tanks were available for use stationed at the Fruit Market in Glasgow Merchant City Machine gun posts were set up aswell at key points

Aftermath of the battle Within a week of the Battle of George Square, the strike was over 40 hour working week was not achieved Striking workers from the engineering and shipbuilding industries returned to work with an agreement for a 47 hour working week Victory in the short term for the workers