In 1915, during World War I, landlords in Glasgow tried to raise rents by up to 25%, targeting working-class families, many of whom had husbands away fighting in the war. These women, already struggling to make ends meet, saw the increase as a harsh exploitation of their vulnerability. The move sparked outrage throughout the city, especially in areas like Govan and Partick, where overcrowded tenements and poverty were widespread.
Led by determined organizers like Mary Barbour, the women launched a massive rent strike. Thousands refused to pay the higher rents and formed defense squads to block evictions. When bailiffs came to enforce court orders, they were met with flour bombs, jeers, and even public humiliation such as having their trousers pulled down. The women’s tactics were bold, theatrical, and highly effective—they turned resistance into both a spectacle and a powerful show of solidarity.
The strike gained national attention and forced the government to step in. In 1915, the Rent Restriction Act was passed, freezing rents at pre-war levels and protecting tenants from unfair increases. The Glasgow rent strike became a landmark moment in British labor history, demonstrating how grassroots action, led by working-class women, could challenge authority and succeed.
