Industrial Flashcards
Describe the condition of the relationship of industrial workers and the government post WWI?
- Industrial workers experienced long-term industrial neglect, and thus a massive increase in workers joining trade unions
When was the Black Friday Strike?
1921
Explain the Black Friday Strike
- Lloyd’s government wanted to decrease wages due to economic issues after WWI
- Tried to dock miners’ waged - rest of Triple Alliance did not strike, as they were not prepared
- Failed
What is the Triple Alliance?
Alliance between railwaymen, miners, and other transport workers
When was the May General Strike?
1926
Explain the May General Strike
- Called by TUC
- Attempted to force British government to prevent wage reductions (unsuccessful)
- 3 million workers went out on strike
- TUC eventually gave in
- Miners continued until November
What did the May General Strike lead to?
1927 Trade Disputes Act - sympathetic strikes were now illegal, leading to a dip in TU membership
What were the impacts of the Great Depression?
- Unemployment never fell below 1 mil in Interwar period
- 3 million in 1932 (unemployed men)
- Working conditions remained poverty stricken
- Traditional heavy industries (coal, steel etc.) began to decline, due to new technologies
What implications did WWII have?
- Changed attitudes - more women in workplace, leading to better working conditions during war
- Improved healthcare
- Some strikes during the war over wages and hours (not many)
What was the film ‘I’m Alright Jack’ implying?
When was it?
1959
- Showed working people as pathetic - wanted to strike after every inconvenience
- Was watched by authoritative figures like the Queen
Explain the benefits of being in a ‘white collar’ job
- higher average income
- more difficult to lose job due to new technological developments
- greater mobility
What did the Atlee Government do in terms of improving Industrial relations?
- worked with unions
- nationalised key industries
- repealed Trade Disputes Act of 1927 - giving TUs more power
Explain the conditions of the 50s for workers
- high TU membership
- more strikes than before
What happened with Harold Wilson’s Labour government? 1964-70
- Number of Wildcat Strikes (unofficial) increased
- Evident that TUs couldn’t control their members
- 3 million working days lost each year
- Traditional Industries often left behind in pay rises
- Increasing inflation led to growing militancy
What was introduced with Wilson’s Labour government, and what did it do?
1969 - In Place of Strike
+ National wage increased
+ TUC and government were close
- Secretary of State could order those in wildcat strikes to get back to work
- Disputes between unions would go to an industrial board
What happened with Edward Heath’s Conservative government? 70-74
- Time of soaring inflation
- TUC refused to comply and co-operate
- Heath’s gov hesitant when enforcing new rules
- Miners were considered the biggest threat to gov
- Introduced 1971 Industrial Relations Act - reduced TU power immensely
Explain the situation with the Miners (Heath’s Gov)
- Constantly underpaid
- Felt excluded from the nation’s prosperity
- National Coal Board had closed over 400 pits, making over 400k workers redundant
Explain the ‘flying pickets’
A new tactic to strike, invented by Arthur Scargill (high profile union member during Heath’s gov)
Miners would blockade power stations and coal depots
In 1972 - tactic decreased electricity output to 25%
Explain the times of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan’s Labour gov
+ they repealed Heath’s Industrial Relations Act - negotiated a social contract (voluntary prices and wages control agreement)
+ Callaghan replaced Wilson - unions complied with Callaghan’s call for wage restraint
- Winter of Discontent 78-79
What and when was the Winter of Discontent?
1978-79
- Strict 5% pay rise for low-paid workers, to combat inflation led to strikes
- Ford workers began strike, and many others followed
- Rubbish everywhere, power cuts, bodies not buried
- Hospital staff on strike - most schools, museums, libraries shut etc
- Gov accepted defeat - allowed for 10-15% pay increase
