Centenary of the 1926 General Strike

That the Parliament notes that 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the General Strike of 1926; understands that the strike was called by the TUC in solidarity with coal miners who were facing severe wage reductions and longer working hours; acknowledges that it lasted from 3 to 12 May 1926 and that 1.7 million workers across the UK, including transport workers, printers, dockers and labourers, came out in solidarity with miners’ unions in defence of pay and conditions; recognises the miners’ call for “Not a penny off the pay, not a minute on the day”; believes that, in the course of the 100 years since, the strike has fundamentally shaped the relationship between workers, employers, government and the labour movement; considers that trade unions remain centrally important as a collective voice for workers in Scotland and across the UK; notes with concern what it sees as the continued challenges and exploitation facing workers in 2026, including reports of unequal pay, wage theft, zero-hours contracts, fire-and-rehire conditions and workplace violence, bullying and harassment; believes that when workers stand together, lasting change can be won for all, and calls on all workers across Scotland to educate, organise and unionise in a spirit of fellowship, solidarity and unity.