| |
| 1926 |
| |
| In a move to expedite the creation of a “national grid” for the efficient transfer of electric power from one area of the country to another, the government, under the auspices of the Central Electricity Board, took over the wholesale distribution of electric power, but not its generation or retail distribution. | 1 |
| Adoption was legalized. | 2 |
| |
| May 1 |
| |
| Strike of coal miners, a reaction to a commission report adverse to the continuation of government subsidy and mineowners' plans to slash wages. | 3 |
| |
| May 3–13 |
| |
| GENERAL STRIKE, in sympathy with coal miners. It involved about 2.5 million of the 6 million trade union members in Great Britain. Volunteers, largely from the upper classes, maintained essential transport and other services. The Trade-Union Council called off the strike on May 13 with an understanding that negotiations on wages and hours would be resumed. But the miners' union continued to strike until Nov. 19, when it surrendered unconditionally. Baldwin's government responded with the Trade Unions Act of 1927. The act declared all general strikes illegal and prohibited the use of trade union dues for political purposes unless so requested in writing by a member. As a result, union membership dropped almost 50 percent. | 4 |
| |
| Oct. 19–Nov. 18 |
| |
| Imperial Conference. Its report declared that Great Britain and the dominions “are autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the crown and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations.” | 5 |
| |
| |
