Political Developments: Strike Action in Callaghans Premiership and its Consequences Flashcards
Due to the 1977 Strikes, what did Callaghan announce later that year?
5% cap on wage increases
What was significant about the wage cap that Callaghan introduced?
Labour initially came in trying to improve Trade Union Relations
What contract had the Unions fully broken away from by now?
Social contract
What did the social contract say?
The government would protect trade unions
How many strikes happened from 1976-79?
11,000 strikes happened
How many days were lost to strikes from 1976-79?
50 million days.
What happened with by-elections for Labour due to the strikes?
Labour lost many by-elections
What did Film Processors do when they went on strike?
They engaged in violent riots in North London
What did Callaghan do to secure Labour’s position in office?
He made a pact with the Liberals
What pay rise did the Lorry drivers want?
60%
How many Ford Motor Plants went on strike in 1979? What pay rise did they want?
23, wanting a pay rise of 20%
What year did the beginning of larger strike action begin?
1978
Which business started the immense strike action?
A Ford Car Plant
What weekly wage did the Merseyside Ford workers want?
£60 a week.
What did Labour do with their price cap policy after 1978?
They abandoned it
What strike made the public oppose Trade Unions?
Childrens Hospital Staff strikes
When did 1.5 million people strike? (To the month)
January 1979
What percentage of the public felt trade unions had too much power by 1979?
80% said Unions had too much power
How many people were in Trade Unions by 1979?
13 million people
How many members did the TGWU have in 1979?
2 million members
What caused increased strike action by 1978?
Callaghans 5% wage rise cap
What is an example of Callaghan seeming relaxed about the strikes?
He said, “Crisis, what crisis?” ending up as a headline in The Sun
Which newspaper made Callaghan’s “Crisis, what crisis?” question a headline?
The Sun
How did Callaghan end the strikes?
He gave all industries pay rises
What percentage increase in opinion polls did the Conservatives have in 1979?
20% increase
When did Callaghan receive a vote of no confidence? (To the month)
March 1979
How many people were unemployed in 1979?
1 million people
What was the name of the pact Labour had made with the Liberals?
Lib-Lab Pact
Why did the Liberals abandon the Lib-Lab pact by 1979?
They opposed Labour’s response to strikes
Why did the SNP no longer agree to the Lib-Lab Pact?
They tried to have a referendum but Labour denied them being able to have it
