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Britain Transformed 1918-2000 > Changing Industrial Relations 1918-1939, 1939-1979, and Reasons for breakdown in the 1960s and 70s > Flashcards

Changing Industrial Relations 1918-1939, 1939-1979, and Reasons for breakdown in the 1960s and 70s Flashcards

1
Q

When were trade unions first legally recognised in Britain?

A

1871 with the Trade Union Act.

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2
Q

What did the Trade Union Congress (TUC) set up in 1900?

A

Labour Representation Committee (LRC)- parliamentary representation for the newly enfranchised working classes. This became the Labour party

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3
Q

What were the reasons for industrial change in the 1920s?

A

Poor handling of the miners during the transition from a wartime economy to a peacetime one.

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4
Q

How was the coal industry coping before and during WW1?

A

Pre-war, coal industry was booming as it was used for nearly everything and demand increased in the war. As coal production was so significant for the war effort the govt took over ownership from private owners- led to improved conditions and paid for most miners.

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5
Q
  1. What happened in 1921 that exacerbated the decline of the coal industry?
  2. What other reasons caused the coal industry to decline?
A
  1. All mines returned to private owners, despite recs from Sankey Commission (1919).
  2. Oil increasingly used as shipping fuel, electricity now available, more efficient boilers made, other nations began to mine coal, Brit pits had been ‘over mined’+owners were reluctant to spend £ modernising mines
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6
Q

What was ‘Black Friday’ of 1921?

A

When coal prices suffered due to a further drop in the competitiveness of Brit prices (linked to reattachment to Gold Standard), miners went on strike, but alone.

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7
Q

What were the effects of the ‘Black Friday’ of 1921?

A

As a result, other industries like shipbuilding also had to suffer pay cuts & TUs reaffirmed the importance of uniting in the face of adversity- inspired solidarity seen at the start of General Strike

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8
Q

What was ‘Red Friday’ in 1925?

A

Govt provided short-term subsidies in 1925- “buying time” against the unions. Led to false sense of confidence and militancy which inspired the General Strike

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9
Q

Examples of the North/South divide

A
  • North: Cotton, mining, and ship building each lost 1/3 of their workforce
  • South: building industry increased their workforce by 33%; Service industries increased their workforce by 40% in the 30s, a reflection of how more ppl could take more holidays
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10
Q

Consequences of WW1 for Trade Unions

A

Membership increased: 4.3m to 8.3m- it doubled from 22% of the workforce to 44%. This meant they had far gr8r influence, leading to intensified militancy.

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11
Q

What was the overall effect of Trade Union behaviour in the 1920s?

A

Negative effect on workforce: TU aggression= harder to be flexible w/wages, so suffering firms e.g. in trad. ind. were forced to lay off workers, decreasing productivity.

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12
Q

Context of the year 1926

A
  • Middle class afraid of Com revolution as rise of TUs and workers mirrored that in Russia (1917)
  • Labour + Communism= left-wing; Labour fails to form govt in ‘24 after being accused of Soviet sympathies
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13
Q

In terms of foreign and domestic industry, how was the rise of Trade Unions harmful?

A
  • Halted progress of certain industries
  • Foreign competitors had greater access to cheap manual labour e.g. US had influx of immigrants, gave them huge advantage for economic growth
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14
Q
  1. How many strikes had there been in 1926?

2. How many working days were lost as a result?

A
  1. 323

2. 162.23 million working days lost, largely due to the General Strike of 1926

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15
Q

When was the General Strike?

A

4th May-12th May 1926

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16
Q

How had the government prepared for the General Strike?

A

Organisation for Maintenance of Supplies (under Churchill,late 1925)- group of volunteers that would replace workers during strike. Mainly middle class volunteers- afraid of Communism, wanted to fulfill dream of blue collar jobs, etc.

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17
Q
  1. During the General Strike, how did the Govt. respond?

2. What did Labour do during the General Strike?

A
  1. Aggressive stance w/Army/police action + propaganda
  2. ‘Betrayed’ the workers- had been afraid of the strike and had secretly been pleading w/govt to ensure it didn’t happen.
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18
Q

Why had the General Strike happened in the first place?

A

Miners went out to protest proposed wage cuts of 13%, redundancies, and general discontent with working conditions e.g. increase in work hours from 7-8. Other trad. ind. workers joined in solidarity.

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19
Q

What was the short-term cause of the General Strike?

A

1926 Samuel Commission: rejected nationalisation, said govt should end the subsidy for the miners. It recommended 13.5% wage cuts & said working days should be 7/8 hrs long. Sided fully w/mine owners as it was made up of rich industrialists.

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20
Q

What was the social effect of the General Strike?

A
  • Many saw it as an attempt to bring about a Bolshevik-type revolution
  • Working class demonised and class divide deepened as white collar workers volunteered to operate key services
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21
Q

What was the political effect of the General Strike?

A

Support from middle class + non-unionised portion of the country during the strike was so strong, after it the govt was able to pass the 1927 Trades Dispute Act, which prevented sympathy strikes and mass picketing.

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22
Q

What was the economic effect of the General Strike?

A
  • Wages for miners slashed, industry lost 30% or its workers

- Depression meant unemployment grew- TUs lose power as unemployment grows; 8M members in 1922 to 4.5M in 1932

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23
Q

What was the cultural effect of the General Strike?

A

BBC est. its role as a PSB on the side of conservatism in British life. It broadcasted messages in support of govt’s position on the strike.

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24
Q

How strong were the TUs in the 1920s and 1930s?

A
  • Generally weakened: 8M members in 1922 vs4.5M in 1932
  • Exception: Commie Party-backed National Unemployed Workers’ Movement (NUWM) which grew in the Depression but was still small vs the other unions (MFGB)
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25
Q

Did all of Britain recover after the Depression?

A

By the eve of WW2, most of country had recovered but the heavy industrial heartlands now in terminal decline were still the most poverty-stricken areas eg S. Wales, Yorkshire, Tyneside coal fields or Merseyside docks

26
Q

Movement to war production for WW2 led to full employment. How many civilians were involved in war work by 1944?

A

33% of civilians, including 7M women.

Working opportunities for many people in Britain improved as TUs were more able to negotiate working conditions, wages, and benefits.

27
Q

Ernest Bevin issued the Essential Work order in March 1941, what did it do?

A

Tied ppl to jobs considered essential for war work + made it hard for employers to dismiss them.

28
Q

In terms of government action, why did the power of unionism grow rapidly from 1945 to the 1960s?

A
  • Commitment to full employment-> growth in TU membership

- Wilson failed to mitigate the TU threat

29
Q

In terms of legislation, why did the power of unionism grow rapidly from 1945 to the 1960s?

A
  • Labour govt of 1945 repealed 1927 Trade Disputes Act

- 1965 Trades Dispute Act gave unionised workers more protection against being fired due to strike action

30
Q

In terms of trade unions themselves, why did the power of unionism grow rapidly from 1945 to the 1960s?

A
  • Growth in prosperous TU leaders like Vic Feather + Jack Jones- led to distance between TU members + their leaders; members more supportive of stewards
  • Increasingly militant shop stewards who wanted a gr8r share in consumerism
31
Q

Economic reasons for the TU growth in power from 1945 to the 1960s?

A
  • PWC commitment to cooperation w/TUs
  • Commitment to full employment- less competition for jobs + TU membership increased dramatically
  • Attempts to involve workers, politicians + management in managing wage restraints for the gr8r good of the economy failed in Macmillan years
32
Q

How did the growth of a consumer society help the power of unionism grow rapidly from 1945 to the 1960s?

A

It led to a new type of economic logic in Britain.Emotional life of Britons became linked w/economic wants instead of needs from the 50s onwards, workers wanted a share in consumer boom.

33
Q

What was TU membership like between 1950 and 1970?

A

1950: 9,289
1960: 9,835
1970: 11,179

34
Q

What evidence is there to prove that their were poor relations between the unions and the Conservative governments of 1951-1964?

A
  • 1945-54: 1,751 strikes involving 500k workers

- 1955-64: 2,521 strikes involving over 1.1M workers

35
Q

What evidence suggests the TUs were not liked by the general public?

A
  • Middle-class newspapers like The Times oft unfairly blamed the TUs for Britain’s relatively weak economic performance in the boom of the 60s- scapegoat
  • Growing perception of unionised men being lazy, obstructed and too powerful (I’m Alright Jack)
36
Q

What type of strike action dominated the 1960s?

A
  • 90% of all strike aciton were wildcat strikes- TUC seemingly unable to control their members.
  • Average of 3M days lost each year to strikes in the 60s, leapt to 4.7M in 1968
37
Q

What was the Girling Brake Strike involving the Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers (AEF)?

A

1968: Wildcat strike began at the Girling Brake Company. Dispute began when the AEF protested about a worker from another union using an oil pump that only AEF members were allowed to touch.

38
Q

What was the impact of the Girling brake strike?

A
  • Stopped manufacture of brakes for the British car industry
  • 5,000 workers across the industry temporarily laid off
  • Millions of £s in orders lost
39
Q

What was the cause of militancy in the trade unions?

A

Inflation. Growth in affluence throughout the 60s only benefitted professions w/above-inflation pay increases. Most unionised professions, esp the miners, were exempt.

40
Q

What was the Trade Disputes Act of 1965?

A

Restored certain legal immunities for trade unions

41
Q

Who proposed the ‘In Place of Strife’ white paper?

A

Barbara Castle in 1969

42
Q

What did the ‘In Place of Strife’ white paper propose?

A
  • Secret ballots before strikes became compulsory
  • Cooling off period of 28 days could be imposed at ministerial discretion- ordered back to work
  • Fines for legal breaches, potentially jail for members
43
Q

Was the ‘In Place of Strife’ white paper supported?

A

Widespread public support but detested by the unions so it was never implemented.

THIS VICTORY FOR TUs WOULD DOOM HEATH’S ATTEMPTS TO REFORM THEM WHEN HE CAME TO POWER

44
Q

What was the 1966 National Seamen’s Strike?

A
  • Seamen wanted a 17% pay rise which would break w/govt’s voluntary income policy
  • Govt opposed strike, Wilson implied the strikes were in league w/Communist party
  • Strikers give up, but shows tension between TUs + govt
45
Q

What was Heath’s attitude to the unions?

A

Selsdon man wanted to limit the power of the unions and refuse to prop up failing industries

46
Q

What was the 1971 Industrial Relations Act?

A
  • Limits on the right to strike
  • Insisted unions had to place themselves on a govt register
  • Est National Industrial Relations Court to judge legality of strike action
47
Q

Why did the 1971 Industrial Relations Act fail?

A
  • Unions refused to comply- they simply refused to register and the TUC mobilised a massive campaign of non-cooperation.
  • Govt reluctant to enforce its own rules
48
Q

What caused the unofficial miners’ strikes of 1970?

A

NUM voted for 33% pay increase to bring miner wages in line w/other industrial workers. NUM voted for strike action but needed a two-thirds majority and just over 50% agreed. Led to unofficial strikes in North and in the South of Wales.

49
Q

What happened in 1972 that allowed the miners’ strikes to become official?

A

Heath govt imposed a pay policy that restricted pay rises to 8% and in Dec 1971, a second ballot which only needed a 55% majority due to new rules was successful- strike began in Jan 1972.

50
Q

Who created the idea of ‘flying picket strikes’ and what were they?

A
  • Arthur Scargill
  • Process of moving a group of 1k miners to blockade power stations and coal depots.
  • Reduced electricity output to 25% in 1972
  • 40k miners across 500 separate sites in the nation
51
Q

What did Heath do in response to the strikes of 1972?

A

Unlike Baldwin in 1926, he hadn’t sufficiently planned for the strike and had no available resources to beat it. Eventually he gave in and give them a 27% pay rise.

52
Q

Why did the NUM call a second strike in the 1973-74?

A

Realised the oil crisis of 1973 left the nation dependent on coal and saw an opportunity to gain fresh pay increases

53
Q

How much of a wage rise did the NUM demand in the striks of 1973-74?

A

35%- miners went on strike led to a decline in electricity production which led to power cuts

54
Q

What was the impact of the strike of 1973-1974?

A

Govt declared a state of emergency + 3 day working week:

  • Commercial electricity use limited to 3 days/week, businesses work 3 days a week
  • 50mph driving limit
  • Closure of some schools
55
Q

What was Heath’s new slogan for the election of 1974?

A

‘Who governs Britain?’ Asked the public to back him against the unions.

Lost- showed the public had no confidences in the ability of the Tories to deal w/the TUs

56
Q

What was the attitude of the Wilson and Callaghan governments of 1974-1979 towards the unions?

A
  • Repealed Heath’s Industrial Relations Act & replaced it w/vague ‘Social Contract’- a voluntary prices and wages control agreement.
  • Callaghan was determined to stick to 5% wage increase limit in ‘78
57
Q

When did Wilson resign?

A

April 1976. He was succeeded by Callaghan

58
Q

The Winter of Discontent main strikes

A
  • Sept 1978 Ford strike–> 17% wage raise- shamed govt
  • Dec 1978: lorry drivers began an overtime ban, demanding a 40% pay rise. Refusal to deliver- no petrol for garages or heating oil for schools
  • Gravediggers on strike in Liverpool- end of Jan: 225 corpses in storage awaiting burial
59
Q

Why did the January 1979 strikes begin?

A

Healey enforced a strict 5% pay increase for low-paid workers due to soaring inflation

60
Q

Features of Winter of Discontent (1978-1979)

A
  • 1.5M public sector workers went on strike protesting the wage freezes (condition of IMF loan)
  • Almost all schools, museums, libraries shut
  • Hospital staff on strike- could only treat A&E patients
  • Rubbish went uncollected, piling up on the streets
61
Q

How did the government try to end the Winter of Discontent?

A

Offered public sector strikers an 11% pay rise

62
Q

What were the main consequences of the Winter of Discontent?

A
  • Dramatic shift in public attitudes against the TUs. In 1969, 60% of ppl said they had a + view of the unions. In 79, only 20% did.
  • Huge dissatisfaction w/in unions themselves- 1/3 Trade unionists voted for Thatcher when she promised to curtail TU pwr

Britain Transformed 1918-2000 (20 decks)

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