Harry William Hobart (1854-1941) was a lifelong social democrat. Heavily involved with trade unions, he took part in many of the attempts that took place at the end of the nineteenth century to gain better rights and protections for workers. Hobart was born in Walworth, south east London. His interest in radical politics seems to … Read more
In March 1984, the Conservative government announced the closure of twenty coal mines with a loss of 20,000 jobs. In response, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) announced a strike which ultimately lasted a year and, at its peak, involved 142,000 workers. The strike was one of the most bitter trade disputes in British history, … Read more
The strikes at the Ford factories in Dagenham in 1968 and 1984 are considered landmark disputes in labour-relations. A limited-edition plate (c.1984), that belongs to the collections of the Women’s Library at the London School of Economics, commemorates the strikes and their legacy. The message of the plate is clear; the strikes were instrumental in … Read more
