FEATURE The General Strike 1926
‘The miners will never forget’
In 1926 the nation’s workers came together in solidarity to support striking miners. Our farm workers joined in to help
One hundred years ago the country was being brought to a standstill by the General Strike as a dispute over miners' pay escalated into a walk out from other unions in solidarity.
Much of the strike focused on industrial cities across the country, with agricultural workers rarely involved directly. However, a look through Landworker editions from the time make it clear that union members of the National Union of Agricultural Workers (NUAW) fully supported striking miners and found ways to show solidarity.
An article from June 2026 entitled How Head Office Helped in the Great Fight described how the union was supporting the strike.
The NUAW office, then at Headland House, Gray’s Inn Road, housed
the Railwaymen's Central Strike Committee, with space also given to district committees of other unions, and “the office rapidly became a hive of industry.”
One of the most important things members needed was news of the ongoing strike.
So, “it was decided that copies of the British Worker should be dispatched to every branch secretary and other local officers, and that circular letters be sent out regularly, advising our members of what action they should take.”
The Landworker also pointed out that, with transport workers striking, many office staff could not get home after work.
This resulted in many people either taking a long walk home, or staying
overnight which, the journal explained “made them recall their days of service in the Great War as they tried to snatch a little sleep on the office floor!”
Those concerned with today’s internet being full of fake news may be interested to learn that similar concerns were expressed by the union about ‘the use of wireless.’
A report pointed out that the ‘wireless may be a great boon to agriculture, but the recent strike showed us that the government may be unscrupulous in its use of it.’
‘‘ All out – Workers in Gateshead down tools in support of the miners 28 uniteLANDWORKER Summer 2026
Once the miners are brought down what will be left of the arguments by which other trades defend their wage rates? I am proud that farm workers have done well, but we must do still more
RB Walker, general secretary, NUAW
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