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The Great Dock Strike of 1889

Pressure on the employers

Butler's Wharf was soon receiving ships after Henry Lafone negotiated a settlement. © NMM

At the beginning of September pressure was mounting on the employers to resolve the strike. They still seemed unwilling to make concessions even though ship-owners and wharfingers were increasingly critical of the dock companies' stubbornness.

Henry Lafone, manager of Butler's Wharf, held separate negotiations with the strike committee. He paid his 300 men on strike 1s each a day, including Saturday and Sunday. Lafone worked hard to bring about a satisfactory settlement and his own wharf was soon unloading ships.

Revolt by the ship-owners

Sir Thomas Sutherland (1834-1922). © NMM

Sir Thomas Sutherland (1834-1922), Chairman of the P&O Company, even suggested that the ship-owners might take over the unloading of ships.

There was also the threat that the dispute would develop into a general strike in London and this finally prompted action.

The Committee

Mansion House Committee. © NMM

On 5 September, when the strike was in its fourth week, the Lord Mayor of London formed the Mansion House Committee.

Its aim was to try to bring the two sides together to end the strike. Ben Tillett and John Burns represented the dockers at the negotiations.

Cardinal Manning

Cardinal Manning depicted on a banner of the Amalgamated Society of Watermen and Lightermen. © NMM

The Mansion House Committee persuaded the employers to meet practically all the dockers' demands. After five weeks the Dock Strike was over. It was agreed that the men would go back to work on 16 September.

• Images of protest.
• Powering the City
• Many hands: Trades of the Port of London, 1850-1980
• Social conditions in the 19th century port
• The 19th-century port
• Thames Ironworks
• Labour unrest in the port after 1889