1C - Change and Challenge in the Workplace, 1945-1979 Flashcards
In what periods was full employment prioritised?
1940s-1970s both parties maintained a commitment to full employment due to favourable economic conditions in 1950s - 1960s. Unemployment only rose above 2% in 8 of the years between 1948-1970.
What impact did low unemployment have on industrial relations?
Improved industrial relations. Employers needed to keep skilled workers in workplaces - needed attractive conditions.
What did employers offer in times of low unemployment to keep workers?
Began to offer benefits like cheap canteen facilities, sports and social clubs.
How were employment opportunties improved?
Better education + better economy, more choice and more flexibility in how they were employed. More white collar + technological jobs in electronics, light engineering and the provision of consumer goods.
How many people were employed in the car industry in 1956 when it became a major employer and what was the pay like despite the repetitive work?
500,000 people were directly employed in the production of motor vehicles. Good pay - weekly earnings for males in 1951 - £8.30 per week to £15.35 in 1961. £30.93 by 1971
How did retail prices rise in relation to wages in the period 1945-1970?
Prices rose by 63% between 1955 - 1969, weekly wages went up 88%. Overtime made wages rise by 130%. People could buy more with their money as mass production made the cost of technology fall.
When did unemployment begin to grow and where was it prominant?
Full employment began to decline before the commitment was abandoned - 1 million in 1972. Decline in heavy industry = unemployment was more prominent in the North, South Wales, the Midlands and Scotland.
What did Labour conclude in 1976?
That PW job opportunities were no longer available. Abandoned commitment to full employment and accepted that market forces are more dominant than gov intervention.
What policy was adopted in the 1950s and 1960s to unite TUs, employers and the government and why did it begin to fail?
Corporatism - gave unions a role in wage setting and industrial policy. Late 1960s and 1970s - TUs and gov became less cooperative and more antagonistic.
How did TUs have their views heard more by the government after the war?
TU leaders appointed to gov bodies on wages, industry and social policy. 1939 - TU leaders sat on 12 committees 1949 - 50 committees
How close was Labour with the unions after the war?
1945 - 120 Labour MPs sponsored directly by TUs including Ernest Bevin.
1945-1951 TUC and Labour had similar priorities in terms of social and economic policy.
Labour repealed 1927 Trades Disputes Act after GS - gave TUs more power
When was the era of high employment and what impact did it have?
1950s - high TU membership which continued to grow in 1960s-1970s. TU leaders now prosperous and far removed from members. TUC general secretaries - Vic Feather and Len Murray - lived affluent lives
How did older and newer TU members differ?
Older members had lived through the GD and wanted fair pay and conditions while new members were influenced by consumerism and wanted high pay out of greed
Who were the shop stewards?
TU representatives from a factory for example, built power bases + called strike action before a decision had been made by senior union management, confrontational and aggressive
How did strikes increase under the Conservative ADH in 1964?
Strikes increased involving 600,000 more people by 1964 with 1.1 million workers compared to 1951.
What did middle class newspapers like The Times blame TUs for?
For weak econ performance during boom of the 1960s. TUs were associated with laziness, obstructiveness and abundance of power.
