The origins of the General Strike GS are complex. The bad working conditions for workers in the 'staple' industries meant that the workers in these industries frequently went on strike. It was still impossible for the workers to influence their bosses, as a strike the magnitude of the GS seemed unimaginable. This was why the Triple Alliance was introduced to create some co-ordination between workers across the country to strike together. So now an effective strike was manageable if all Trade Unions agreed. The crisis in industrial relations occurred even before the Great War however, it was soon put...
any more.

On the 12th of May the TUC General Council could see no prospect of victory, and so decided to end the strike sooner, much to the Government's relief. This was because they did not want to threaten the constitution any longer, in case extremists would get involved and turn the strike into a political struggle for power.

The miners, however, went on striking until December. They faced starvation if they did not go back. In the end they had to accept lower pay and longer hours and in some cases more severe cuts were made.