National railway strike of 1911

The national railway strike of 1911 was the first nation-wide strike of railway workers in Britain. It took place during a period of labour unrest sometimes characterised as the "Great Unrest".

The strike arose from longstanding disputes between workers and railway companies, combined with the desire of the unions to assert their unity and strength. The strike lasted only two days, but the show of strength succeeded in forcing the Liberal Government to set up a royal commission to examine the workings of the 1907 Conciliation Board. The strike also led to the Llanelli Riots of 1911, in which two people died in clashes between railway workers and troops, which had been sent in to stop the blockade of the line by strikers.

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