Industiral Relations Flashcards
What was happening at the start of Heaths term regarding industrial relations?
-industrial disputes already occurring
-dockers strike + postal workers’ strike
-large lay settlements for dustmen
-‘go-slow’ workers led to power cuts
What was the industrial relations act?
-response to Ind relations
-similar to Castle’s ‘In place of strife’
-abolished national board for prices + incomes
What did the industrial relations act do?
-set up industrial relations court
-provided for strike ballots
-‘cooling off period’ before official strike begins
What was the reaction to the Ind relations act?
-TUC and CBI opposed to it
-major strikes 1972
-highest number days lost in strikes since general strike 1926 which lost 13 m + days
What was the industrial act of 1972?
-manage wage demands
-aimed involve gov, TUC + CBI in agreeing wages, princes, investment + benefits
-heavily criticised by right cons party like Powell
What happened despite the new industrial relations act?
-continued Ind disputes with firefighters + power workers
What was the oil crisis November 1973?
-oil embargo announced against countries who supported Israel in Yom Kippur War
-led to another wage demand from miners
-but beyond limits gov wanted to impose to hold down inflation
What happened following the oil crisis demands?
-miners introduced overtime ban to strengthen demands
-Heath hoped compromise reached by also threatened another 3 day week to save electricity at start 1974
What did Heath do to try to come to a compromise to miners strikes?
-tried move Whitelaw from NI office to department for employment but failed
-whitelaw was a skilled negotiator in sunningdale negotiations
-miners refused pay offer + Jan 1974 NUM called national strike
What happened as a result of this?
-3 day week imposed to conserve electricity in response to Ind action
What happened during the 3 day week?
-fuel rationed + 50 mph limit on all roads
-deep cuts to heating + lighting of public buildings
-many Ind forced lay off workers + huge surge in people signing up for temp unemployment payments
What was the impact of the 3 day week?
-productivity nor wages declined very much
-shrinkage of coal with rising oil prices led to BoP crisis
What dud Heath do in response?
-called general elections 28th feb 1974
-reinforced idea 1974 years of political crisis + not econ crisis
What happened during the election?
-voters nit enthusiastic about either maim parties
-liberals grew to 14 seats
-nationalist parties grew to 23 seats
-as largest party Labour formed minority gov
