thatcher industrial relations Flashcards
what were thatcher beliefs regarding industrial relations
union power made british firms uncompetitive because high labour costs meant business was lost to more efficient overseas companies
existing industrial relation laws coerce worker into joining unions and participating in industrial action against their judgement
jobs would become available once british industry adjusted to market conditions and unions lost their power to control labour conditions
what was the employment act of 1980
it outlawed secondary picketing and increased employee rights who refused to join trade unions
what was the 1982 employment act
restricted sympathy strikes and closed shops if a ballot showed 85% support.
people sacked for not joining unions were entitled to high compensation
what was the trade union act of 1984
required unions to hold secret ballots before launching industrial action
what was the outcome of thatchers legislation against trade unions
union membership and the amount of days lost to strikes plummeted significantly
unemployment increased and peaked in 1985 but dropped by 1990
what was the objective and aim of the miners strike 1984-85
demonstrate the government was serious about refusing support to loss-making industries
why was the miner’s strike unsuccessful
the government stocked up coal in advance and prepared for a long term dispute to keep power stations running
the miners were unorganised and rallied during summer when there is a lesser demand for coal
govt was prepared to use force to protect the right of miners who wanted to work
violent incidents undermined public support
what was the impact of the miners strike
National Union of Mineworkers dropped from 250,000 in 1979 to less than 100,000 by 1987. the union was bankrupt
divided opinions about thatcher. some praised her for taking down the trade unions, others believed she destroyed livelihoods and communities which haven’t recovered since
