Labor Unrest Turns Violent in England

September 17, 1913, marked a dark day for England as a massive labor strike threatened to paralyze the nation’s transportation system. The movement, which began with the Dublin dock workers, had snowballed into a full-blown crisis, with sympathetic strikes in Liverpool, Birmingham, and Manchester. The Manchester Ship Canal company and seven freight depots in Liverpool were among the many casualties, as the dispute over union recognition and the closed shop principle brought the country to a standstill.