How Effectively did the Government Manage Industrial Relations, 1939-51?

Question 1

War Years, 1939-45- Power of Trade Unions (Power)

Answer 1

Membership increased in war- 1940, 6.6 million, 1945, 7.8 million
Industrial workers (miners) complained they were paid less than other workers in industry + manufacturing- daily pay for miner £5, but over £6 for factory worker

Question 2

War Years, 1939-45- Power of Trade Unions (Unrest)

Answer 2

Strike action steadily increased during war
Unions in powerful position- able to strike successfully
Younger workers conscripted to work in the mines (Bevin Boys), would often strike over low pay
South Wales- 514 strikes between 1939-44

Question 3

War Years, 1939-45- National Government (Failures to Manage Strikes)

Answer 3

1940- nationalised control of the mines + introduced ‘Defence Regulation 58AA’- banned strikes
1942- over 1,000 miners in Kent went on strike, gov attempted to prosecute, but surrounding pits also struck, gov forced to give in
1944- 100,000 Welsh miners on unofficial strike, gov forced to give in

Question 4

War Years, 1939-45- National Government (Collaboration)

Answer 4

Government made effort to work more collaboratively with unions
Included many trade union leaders into decision making bodies- Ernest Bevin (General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union) Minister of Labour and National Service in 1940

Question 5

War Years, 1939-45- Analysis (Strength of Unions)

Answer 5

Gov relied on industry, including mining, gave unions more bargaining power
Increased in union membership- more power
Gov gave into demands- increased confidence, so more strikes

Question 6

War Years, 1939-45- Analysis (Government Management)

Answer 6

‘Defence Regulation 58AA’ ineffective in banning strikes
Appointed trade union leaders to gov bodies- collaboration
Didn’t stop strikes

Question 7

Attlee (Labour), 1945-51- Reliance on Unions

Answer 7

Optimistic about Labour government- many MPs directly sponsored by trade unions
1945- 120 Labour MPs sponsored by unions, 26 Ministers, 6 in cabinet

Question 8

Attlee (Labour), 1945-51-Approach to Unions

Answer 8

Conciliatory gov policy- continued appointing union leaders
1939- union leaders on 12 committees, 1949 sat on 60
More access to decision making- so less need for strikes

Question 9

Attlee (Labour), 1945-51- Legislation

Answer 9

Repealed Trades Dispute Act (1927) which had banned sympathetic striking + mass picketing

Question 10

Attlee (Labour), 1945-51- Unrest

Answer 10

Corporatist approach + high employment and standard of living- calm relations
Union membership increasing, by 1950 9.2 million members, unprecedented access to gov
Low unrest

Question 11

Attlee (Labour), 1945-51- Analysis (Strength of Unions)

Answer 11

Had voice in gov + parliament- direct channels of communication
Membership increased
Repeal of TDA- returned power

Question 12

Attlee (Labour), 1945-51- Analysis (Government Management)

Answer 12

Corporatist approach + collaboration with unions successful
Labour had willingness to work with, rather than against, unions