1 March

‘At the time of writing the national coal strike is in full swing, if that term can be properly applied to a cessation of work. The position appears to be one of deadlock. The men have presented their minimum demands, which the masters declare they will not concede, and the Government, which, at the eleventh hour, intervened to effect a settlement, is not prepared to enforce. The outlook at the moment, therefore, is not very hopeful; although there can be little doubt that the men must win if only their leaders maintain the same firmness they have hitherto displayed.’
The British Socialist , Vol. 1, No 3. March, 1912

The strike lasted six weeks and was only called off after the government promised to introduce protective legislation on pay.

But the double-dealing liberals soon went back on their word and no minimum wage figures were mentioned in Minimum Wage Act of 1912. The act was to remain on the statute books until 1947.

‘The Government pretended to be neutral, pretended to yield to the workers, secured the recognition in Parliament of the principle of the minimum wage, but, as a matter of fact, took the side of capital and did not do anything to secure this minimum wage.’
Lenin