Leith Dockers Strike 1913

The Leith dockers strike of 1913 was a strike of the dockers of Leith, Scotland, from 26 June to 14 August 1913. The Dockers were part of the National Union of Dock Labourers (NUDL) union. The strike is said to have brought Leith to a standstill.

The Dockers were demanding an increase in pay, better conditions, a ban on hiring workers outside of the union, and shorter hours.

The Leith Dock Employers Association replied by bringing in 450 workers to break the strike, housing them in ships—the Lady Jocelyn and the Paris—owned by the company. They were protected by the local police forces from Edinburgh and Leith, as well as by others who had been drafted in from Aberdeen, Glasgow, Lanarkshire and the Lothians.

The dockers were unable to enter the perimeter wall, so picketed in shifts. They were only allowed 6 pickets at a time and always escorted by the police. Questions were raised about the legality of closing a public dock. The authorities argued it was necessary to protect people and property, and those with a valid permit could enter.

On 13 July the National Union of Railwaymen met and resolved to refuse to blackleg. Other workers and seamen also joined. The Lothian Miners soon came out in support of the dockers, and the Leith Dockers were supported by other dockers across the east coast of Scotland.

In July, there was a massive outburst in strikes, at the time being described as a "strike epidemic", after female ropeworkers also went on strike, followed by shipmasters.

The local newspaper reported this was unheard of, and that the workers brought in to do the strikers jobs were unable to match the speed of those on strike and were costly in terms of upkeep for the employers.

From 16th to the 18th of July, there was mass rioting. Those workers brought in to replace the strikers were attacked and there is said to have been an attempt to blow up the perimeter wall. During this time, naval boats were sent in at the request of the authorities, but this only led to hostility from sailors and marines, who didn't want to be used in this way.

Questions were raised in Parliament about the use of ships to attempt to break up ships. The response given was that they came as a form of aid but were found to be unnecessary. MPs expressed unease about the secrecy surrounding the use of the ships.

Union officials attempted to control the situation but to no avail. The local press reported sympathetically that the police had often provoked the situation.

Around the middle of July, Edinburgh Tramwaymen and Boilermakers went on strike too, and together, on 20 July 1913, held a demonstration with dockers, seamen, firemen and other trade unionists.

...
Wikipedia