(Change & challenge in the workplace) Industrial relations, 1939-1979 & reason for breakdown in 60s & 70s Flashcards
Summarise the change in industrial relations between 1939-1979 in one sentence.
Wasn’t an improvement in harmony between TUs & govt in WW2, but TUs grew in power & achieved more through strikes & other demands.
What did industry look like during WW2?
Many were nationalised & economy was centrally planned so people worked long hours in poor conditions, leading to demands & pay disputes.
What significant event happened regarding miners and strike action in 1944?
What was the impact? (3)
100,000 Welsh miners went on an unofficial strike for better wages.
Govt forced to pay up to keep war effort going.
Demonstrated changing effect of war on union power.
Laid foundations for core principle of post-war consensus: cooperation with TUs.
What particular event showed that industrial relations were not calm despite the threat of WW2?
(2)
Strikes at west England docks, eg Plymouth, in January, over suspension of 11 men who refused to move to another port & work for less pay.
Happened despite the 1940 Defence Regulation 58AA that banned strikes & lockouts.
What did the power of the unions look like between 1945-1960s?
Grew rapidly
Power of the unions grew rapidly between 1945-1960s.
What are the POLITICAL reasons for this?
(5)
1945 labour govt repealed 1927 Trade Disputes Act.
Full employment grew membership.
Growing power of shop stewards who called unofficial ‘wildcat’ strikes to get more share in consumerism.
Labour passed 1965 Trades Dispute Act.
As power rose, Harold Wilson failed to rebalance their power in economic life.
Power of the unions grew rapidly between 1945-1960s.
Part of the POLITICAL reasons for this was due to full employment creating a growth in Union membership.
What can this be compared to/considered in the context of?
Union membership in the Depression
Power of the unions grew rapidly between 1945-1960s.
Part of the POLITICAL reasons for this was because of the 1965 labour govt passing the Trades Dispute Act.
What did this do?
Gave unionised workers more protection against being fired in the face of strike action.
Power of the unions grew rapidly between 1945-1960s.
Part of the POLITICAL reasons for this was because of Harold Wilson’s failed attempt at rebalancing the power Unions had in British economic life.
Explain this.
Wanted to show himself as a man of the people & hosted union leaders for beers & sandwiches but his attempt to reduce threat of industrial action failed in 1969 due to “In Place of Strife”.
Power of the unions grew rapidly between 1945-1960s.
Part of the POLITICAL reason was Harold Wilson’s failed attempt at rebalancing power of Unions in British economic life due to “In Place of Strife”.
Had this been accepted by Unions, what would it have meant? (3)
Secret ballots take place before strikes become compulsory.
Cooling off period of 90 days could be imposed.
Fines available for breaches of the law by union activists.
Power of the unions grew rapidly between 1945-1960s.
What are the ECONOMIC reasons for this?
(3)
Post-war consensus committed to union cooperation & full employment so there was less competition for jobs & TU membership dramatically increased from the low point of the Depression.
Growth of consumer society created new economic logic from 50s onwards.
Attempts to involve workers, management & politicians in managing wage restraints for the greater good of the economy failed under Macmillan.
Power of the unions grew rapidly between 1945-1960s.
Part of the ECONOMIC reason for this was attempts to involve workers, management & politicians in managing wage restraints failed under Macmillan.
Give an example.
National Incomes Commission
Power of the unions grew rapidly between 1945-1960s.
Part of the ECONOMIC reason for this was due to the growth of a consumer society that created a new type of economic logic.
What was this?
People’s emotional life was associated with economic wants, not needs, & workers wanted a share in the consumer boom.
What did Edward Heath’s government introduce to tackle the problems of industrial action?
What did this do?
1971 Industrial Relations Act
Make sure strikes were “valid” to reduce the amount taking place. Trade Unions, in response, simply moved to not register its validity.
Provide evidence that, by the 1970s, Unions were damaging the economy.
(3)
Inflation averaged 9%
Pay increases averaged 14%
Productivity only increased by 5%