Throughout the United Kingdom, the divisions between the labour movement and
employers had deepened greatly in the early years of the twentieth century. Strikes
had occurred frequently in many places, but it seemed that industrial relations were
becoming more settled in the beginning of the second decade of the century. For the
most part, Dublin had escaped labour unrest.

In 1900 the Dublin Chamber of Commerce confidently declared:

‘We are pleased to note the growing disposition of all classes to unite in promoting
the best interests of our country’.

This harmony did not last and in 1913, the Labour movement in Dublin became
involved in a serious conflict with the employers, known as the Lockout.