ABSTRACT
Tillett must have chafed at his ill health and loss of influence, for the years 1918–1921 marked a particularly turbulent era in British labour history. Viewed by some historians as continuation of great unrest of 1911–14, its class antagonisms were, if anything, more severe, for British workers who had been told they were fighting war to save civilization now expected to reap their reward. When health allowed, Tillett participated in the events surrounding and leading up to ‘Black Friday’, though usually as advocate of industrial peace rather than direct action. The war had set the seal on his outlook and role in labour world, despite occasional gestures which he made to left. During the winter of 1918–19, with Tillett offering tirades against direct action from his sick-bed, miners nevertheless voted by six-to-one majority for a national strike to enforce their first post-war demands — reduction of working day from eight to six hours, and a 30 per cent wage increase.
