12 MAY 1926
Sir John Simon made proposals in the House of Commons for a peaceful settlement of the coal dispute.
According to the official announcement on the strike position, the situation throughout the country showed a further improvement.
Instructions were issued by the T.U.C. to the engineering and shipyard Unions to cease work to-day. Men in North and South Shields and at Palmers’s Yard, Jarrow, decided to refuse to comply with the strike notice.
Three hundred Glasgow tramwaymen returned to duty, and this large break-away is looked upon as the forerunner of a complete collapse.
In granting an injunction sought by the National Sailors’ and Firemen’s Union against certain branch officials of the Union, Mr Justice Astbury said the so-called general strike called by the T.U.C. Committee was illegal and contrary to law, and those persons inciting or taking part in it were not protected by the Trade Disputes Act of 1906. Further, no member of the plaintiff Union in this country could lose his Trade Union benefits by refusing to obey unlawful orders, and the orders of the Trade Union Council and the Unions who are acting in obedience thereto in bringing about the so-called general strike were unlawful orders.
The Government’s Economy Bill passed Committee stage with amendments in the House of Lords.
The House of Commons discussed a Vote for the Pensions Ministry.