Preston strike of 1853–1854

in 1854, Preston was a hub for cotton manufacturing, employing an estimated 17,000 workers. The economy of the United Kingdom had recently been in recession, leading some mills to close or dramatically reduce production, impacting Preston weavers. From 1852 to 1853, there was a high level of discontent among English workers concerning wages. This discontentment spread to many industries, leading to workers striking for higher wages. Among them were agricultural workers, whose strike actions grew more common, particularly near manufacturing towns. There was a strong sense of solidarity between the weavers of Preston, manifesting in weavers working together to resist disciplinary action against their colleagues. Henry Ashworth, an English cotton manufacturer, argued that for masters, the Preston strike was ultimately about the right of capital owners to dictate work conditions. Preston weavers alleged that workers in Blackburn, Lancashire earned wages 10% higher than them. A 10% reduction in wages had previously occurred in 1847 when trade in the region suffered, and workers argued that recent economic improvements entitled them to a return to pre-1847 wages. In addition to a 10% raise in wages, Preston weavers sought an equalization of wages, such that workers at any factory working the same job may receive the same wage. On August 22, 1853, Preston spinners and mule minders met at Temperance Hall to discuss the prospect of a strike if the factory owners refused their demands, to which they agreed unanimously. Around the end of August, the Masters' Association of factory owners in Preston met to discuss the demands of the workers and decided they would resist them. Ultimately, the Preston weavers decided to go on strike. == Timeline ==

Tensions continued to rise over the course of the strike. The weavers held daily rallies in a vacant space outside of Preston called "the Orchard" where workers discussed injustices they faced at the hands of the factory owners. Delegates from around the country joined to give speeches sympathizing with the weavers of Preston. At the end of October, 1853, factories began to close, rendering an estimated 17,000 workers unemployed. Ashworth argued that this clear focus on the 10% raise as a core demand was what made the strike so successful in uniting workers. Attempts at mediation Arbitration was considered as early as the beginning of the strike. One Preston labour leader, speaking at a rally at the Orchard, recommended inviting factory owners to meet with the striking weavers, however, no such meeting materialized. In October 1853, there was a concerted effort by the middle-class people of Preston and the clergy to attempt to bring the striking workers together with the factory owners to reconcile their disagreements. However, the factory owners declined to participate, believing it would not be in their best interests. Striking weavers attempted to prevent strikebreakers from arriving in Preston by protesting at train stations, however, strikebreakers had police escorts to facilitate their journey to the local factories. In response to this, Preston labour leadership sent delegates around the country to attempt to dissuade workers from coming to Preston as strikebreakers. In one instance, a number of Irish immigrant strikebreakers were talked into returning to Ireland before arriving in Preston after a delegate talked them out of it. Several of the delegates were arrested for conspiracy, which further angered Preston strikers. By April 1854, factory owners of the Masters' Association had 7000 people in their employment between them, and by late April they were receiving more applications for employment than they were able to accept. Decline Factory owners in Stockport had previously given weavers the 10% raise that Preston's strikers sought. When they later decided to withdraw the raise, 10,000 workers decided to go on strike a week later. Subsequently, financial contributions to the Preston strike from Stockport stopped as people refocused their resources locally. More broadly, the Stockport strike drew attention away from Preston strikers, whose monthly contributions would steadily decrease from then on. == Outcome ==

On May 1, 1854, the executive committee of the association of Preston weavers circulated an address declaring the end of the strike. The committee identified several reasons for the strike's failure, including the cooperation between factory owners, the successful employment of strikebreakers in Preston and the ongoing war. The committee noted that workers should wait for another opportunity to demand the 10% raise. Preston's weavers ultimately returned to work, however, thousands of workers were left without jobs. Those who did return to work earned less than they were paid before the strike started. ==See also==