May the Fourth is more likely to have seen celebrations of Star Wars than the Centenary of the General Strike (4 to 12 May 1926) – so Awinger’s theme may not have been immediately obvious.
The preamble did not give anything away in direct terms, but it primed us to expect the theme to be some groups who united in a common cause but failed in their endeavour. Third letters of extra clue words would give their slogan, the names of three groups would be seen in the grid and be deleted, but the name of their nemesis was to remain and be highlighted as well as the outcome of the endeavour.
When MINERS and DOCKERS appeared in 11a and 13a (24d was to be PRINTERS), and the slogan seemed to begin NOT A PENNY, then the penny quickly dropped: NOT A PENNY OFF THE PAY NOT A MINUTE ON THE DAY. BALDWIN was of course the TUC’s antagonist, and a clever but of cryptic gridplay (to coin a word) showed that the demise of the PRINTERS also meant that a Penny was sadly deleted from THE [P]AY and A MIN[E]UTE added {above} THE DAY.
The clueing was good and pretty straightforward, and Awinger got his membership credentials for the usual Club in early at 7a “[Oenophile] checks 70 wine cases in turn (5)”. I wish!
Here’s a question. Which would you rather have on a Bank Holiday weekend? A gentle puzzle like this to leave time for family, friends and fun, or a stinker? The editors went for Option 1 and I would have done too: and high marks to them and Awinger for making sure this anniversary was not forgotten.