1907 Belfast Dock strike

1907 Belfast Dock strike
Royal Irish Constabulary Constable William Barrett being chaired by the striking workers through the streets of Belfast after his dismissal, August 1907
Date	26 April 1907 – 28 August 1907
Location	Belfast, Ireland, UK
Caused by	Poor working conditions Lack of workers rights Inability to unionise
Goals	Improved working conditions Granting of right to unionise
Methods	Strikes, rallies, walkouts
Resulted in	Strikers go back to work ITGWU formed
Parties
Workers Organizations NUDL Supported by Belfast Labour movement Independent Orange Order Belfast Labour Party Employers & Companies Belfast Steamship Company Supported by Belfast Corporation Royal Irish Constabulary British Army Irish Unionist Alliance
Lead figures
James Larkin James Sexton Tom Gallaher Lord Mayor, Earl of Shaftesbury

The Belfast Dock strike or Belfast lockout took place in Belfast, Ireland from 26 April to 28 August 1907. The strike was called by Liverpool-born trade union leader James Larkin who had successfully organised the dock workers to join the National Union of Dock Labourers (NUDL). The dockers, both Protestant and Catholic, had gone on strike after their demand for union recognition was refused. They were soon joined by carters, shipyard workers, sailors, firemen, boilermakers, coal heavers, transport workers, and women from the city's largest tobacco factory. Most of the dock labourers were employed by powerful tobacco magnate Thomas Gallaher, chairman of the Belfast Steamship Company and owner of Gallaher's Tobacco Factory.

The Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) later mutinied when ordered to escort the blackleg drivers of traction engines used to replace the striking carters. Order was eventually restored when British Army troops were deployed. Although largely unsuccessful, the dock strike led to the establishment of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union.

Former Irish Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn described the Belfast strike as having been a "major event in the early years of the trade union movement"^[1]