Change and challenge in the workplace Flashcards
When was the legal recognition of Trade Unions
1871
What were reasons for industrial change post-WW1
Many industry was unchanged since Victorian period -outdated and competed
What were some new areas of industry post-WW1
Cars
engineering factories
producer good
Why were WW1 strikes kept to a minimum
David Lloyd George had a deal with Trade Unions
Wartime economy needed high discipline
What were some post-ww1 industrial grievances
Repressed wages
Rising prices
Rising food shortages
Ideological and political grievances
When was Black Friday strike
1921 15th April
What were the members of the triple alliance
The miners federation of GB
The national union of railwaymen
national transport workers federation
What were industries included in heavy industry
Steel, coal mining and iron
What were the two England’s in the interwar years of industry
Newer and older areas of industry
How many strikes were there in Britain in 1917 and with how many people
48 strikes across Britain
involved 200,000 people
How many days were lost due to strikes in 1919, 1920 and 1921
1919-32 million days
1920-25 million days
1921-84 million days
What happened in the 1921 miner’s strike
The MFGB (biggest union 900,000) were protesting the lengthened hours and cut wages
High levels of unemployment meant miners couldn’t complain
Could have easily been broken with dock workers help
Union leaders refused to accept pay cuts
Friday 15th April 1921 Black Friday
NUR and NTWF left miners alone to strike meaning that eventually miners were forced to accept the pay cuts
What does MFGB stand for
Miners federation of Great Britain
What does NUR stand for
National Union of Railwaymen
What does NTWF stand for
National Transport Workers Federation
What were the effects of Black Friday
Miners had a lasting sense of grievances to other members of the triple alliance
How did Stanley Baldwin attempt to prevent the 1926 general strike
Gave pit owners subsidies to pit owners till May 1926 to maintain pay
What happened during the 1926 general strike
1st May a million miners locked out refusing the 13.5% pay cuts and TUC announced a General Strike 3rd May
Strike collapsed as the 1906 trades dispute act gave unions legal immunity from damages and gave claims to profits for businesses
Miners wages slashed and 30% industry if its jobs
What did the Trade disputes act 1927 do
Prevented sympathetic striking and mass picketing
Why did the 1926 general strike fail
Government more organised than the TUC
Published the British gazette and used BBC to publish propaganda
anti-union organisations
Labour party distanced themselves from TUC
What happened to union activity in the 1930s
Significantly weakened due to the Great depression and the aftermath of the general strikes
What was membership of unions 1922
8 million
What was union membership 1932
4.5 million
Who were the Bevin Boys
Men conscripted to work in the mines who recieved lower pay than older miners
went of 514 strikes in South Wales across the war period
What happened in the 1944 Strike
100,000 welsh miners went on an unofficial strike for better wages
What happened in the 19e42 kent miners strike
Miners went on strike illegally leading the the government prosecuting 1,050 miners £1-£4
This led to other miners dropping their tools and the prosecutions being dropped
What did WW2 bring to British employment changes
Brought full employment
Deployment of large numbers of women into factories and jobs previously dedicated to men
Idle factories during 1930s now fully operational
What percentage of the citizen population was involved in the war effort in 1944
33%
What were the Bevin Boys
a controversial policy in December 1943
Conscription of 10% of young men in the coal ines rather than the military
many of the boys hated this to armed service
How did full employment improve working conditions
Employers needed to keep workers in their workplaces using attractive wages and working conditions
Workers more mobile and likely to leave a job that didn’t suit them so employers offered benefits such as canteen facilities, sports and social clubs
What were the highest levels of unemployment 1948-1970
2% due to full employment
How many workers in the car industry in 1956
over 500,000
What was one issue with factory work
It was tedious due the repetitive work
What was a benefit to factory work
High pay
What was average pay factories workers received in 1951, 1961 and 1971
1951-£8.30
1961-£15.35
1971-£30.93
What was the relationship between the government and unions like during WW2
Unions and government worked closely together
What was the relationship between the government and unions like during the 50s and 60s
The era of consensus and corporatism gave unions a role in industrial policy and wage setting
What was the relationship between the government and unions like during late 60s and 70
Government had become gradually less cooperative and more antagonistic
Who was Ernest Bevin
Minister of labour and national service in the war years
Previous leader of the Transport and General Workers Union
From a union point of view who was the most important member of cabinet in WW2
Ernest Bevin the leader of the transport and general workers union
What did Defence Regulation 58AA do and when was it introduced
Introduced in 1940 and it banned war time strikes and lockouts
What was significant at the 1942 Kent Miner’s strike
Government fined miners who illegally striked between £1 and £3 however this led to miners in other pits to throw down there tools until the home secretary dropped charges and improved wages
Why were bevin boys angry during WW2
Younger miners who were conscripted too work in the mines but paid much less than the older more experienced miners
How many strikes were then in South Wales coal fields between 1939 and 1944
514
What did British miners find about the war and striking
War presented improved wages that peacetime did not
What was union membership 1940
6600
What was union membership 1945
7800
What was union membership 1950
9300
What was union membership 1955
9700
What was union membership 1965
10300
What was union membership 1970
11200
What was union membership 1975
11700
What was union membership 1980
12600
What did 1950s see regarding union membership
Due to the high era of unemployment the 1950s saw high trade union membership
What did the new prosperous union leadership mean
Emergence of leaders whose lifestyles were far removed from poorer members
What were the causes of the differences between old and younger union members in the post-WW2 era
Old members less affected by materialism
Younger union members wanted pay rises to enable more consumerism
What did the rise of materlialism see a decline in
Deferential attitudes
How many strikes were there 1945-1954 per year
1751 strikes per year
How many strikes were there 1955 to 1964 per year
2241 strikes per year
Who blamed unions for economic performances in the post-ww2 era
Many Middle class newspapers such as the times
What was a growing perception in the post-ww2 era about unionised men
They were lazy, obstructive and too powerful
What were the 1960 wildcat strikes
Strikes that weren’t officially sanctioned by the unions or the TUC
What did the public associate stewards with in the 1960s
a jumped-up Napoleon figure
Actions of stewards associated with the wider unions
Why were the public associations for stewards a serious issue for Wilson 1960
Labour seen as sympathetic with unions due to their shared history so the voter may vote against them
How many strikes unofficial 1960s
90%
How many days lost on average each year in the 1960s
3 million days
How many days lost in 1968
4.7 million days - the year of the strike
What was the Girling brake strike
A 1968 wildcat strike at Girling brake company
The Amalgamated union of engineering and Foundry workers (AEF) complained about a non AEF worker using a AEF only oil pump
The walkout stopped the manufacture of brakes for the British car industry and led to 5000 workers being temporarily laid off
What was the cause of increased militancy 1960s
Creeping inflation
Who were the only people who benefitted from the growth of affluence in the 1960s
Those who were above the inflation pay increases and
What did the White paper ‘In place of strife’ consist of
Government could order a strike ballot before official industry action took place if the strike was deemed to threaten the economy
Workers in unofficial strikes led by militant shop stewards could be ordered back to work for a 28 day cooling off period
When unions fought the dispute would go to an industrial board who would hand down a legally binding verdict
A strike that broke these rules would be declared illegal
Unions could face stiff fines and members imprisoned
Who introduced the in place of strife white papers
Barbara Castle in 1969
Who supported the in place of strife white papers
Widespread public support
Who were opposed to the in place of strife white papers
Unions
What was labours reaction to the in place of strife white papers
Was divided on the issues
What was the Industrial Relations act 1971
Attempted to introduce all of castle’s measures
Why did the industrial relations act 1971 fail
Ineffective as he time of soaring inflation led to a uncooperative TUC
Heath’s government hesitated in enforcing the new rules
The miners had brought Heath to his knees
In 1970 why did miners want to strike
Consistently underpaid and undervalued- wages 3% lower than manufacturing workers
Didn’t feel like they were prospering off the nations affluence
What happened to the coal industry during the 1960s
Had shrunk drastically
What did the NCB do to miners throughout the 1960s
Closed 400 pits and made 420,000 miners redundant
What was the pay increase voted for by the miners union in 1970
33% increase
What were the NUM
National Union of Miners who had developed from the MFGB in 1945
Why did the 1970 miner strike not initially occur.
Needed 2/3s majority and received only 1/2
What changed meaning miners could strike in 1972?
only a 55% majority was needed for NUM to strike
What was the strategy flying pickets
Blocking off power stations and coal depots with men
Why was the 1972 strike successful
Heath had not planned for the strike and had no available resources to beat it
What change came about due to the 1972 strike
Government gave miners a 27% pay rise
Why did NUM call a second miners strike 1973-1974 winter
The 1973 oil crisis had led the country dependent on coal so saw an opportunity for fresh pay
What did the second miners strike 1973-1974 winter mean for Britain
electricity production declined leading to power cuts
Gov had to call a state of emergency and order a 3 day work week
What was Heaths 1974 slogan and did it help him succeed in winning the election
Who governs Britain
It failed as the voters had no confidence in the Tories to beat Britain
What did Wilson’s gov 1974 negotiate with the unions
A social contract which was a voluntary code to prevent the need for a formal incomes policy
What was the winter of discontent
Winter of strike action between 1978-1979
What caused the winter of discontent
Denis Healy the chancellor enforced a strict 5% pay increase cap for low-payed workers
Why did 15000 auto workers go on strike in the winter of discontent
Ford tried to enforce the government pay policy
Why did membership of the Ford strike increase in october
The TGWU made the strike legal leading to 57000 total workerss
Why did the Ford strike end
Ford offered a 17% pay rise meaning the company incurred gov penalties
How much did Lorry drivers demand in 1978
40% pay rise
Why did the 1978 Haulage strikes fail
They had to withdraw due to the coldest winter since 1947
What was the main consequence of the winter of discontent
dramatic shift in public attitudes against TU
Want percentage of the public sector agreed with unions 1979
Only 20%
Want percentage of the public sector agreed with unions 1969
60%
