The Winter Of Discontent

Question 1

What happened in the autumn of 1978?

Answer 1

-TUC rejected lab gov proposed wage increase limit of 5%
-result - TUs put in higher demands

Question 2

What was the reaction to the proposed wage increase limit?

Answer 2

-TGWU called for 30% on the back of high profits - callaghan badly embarrassed
-oil tanker drivers in TGWU came out for 40% + followed by road haulage drivers + water + sewage workers

Question 3

Who went on strike?

Answer 3

-Ford lorry drivers achieved 15% increase in Dec after 9 week strike
-disruption to transport after strikes by lorry drivers + train drivers’ union ASLEF
-public sector workers — hospital porters, clerical staff in local councils, dustmen + gravediggers

Question 4

What was the result of the gravediggers strike?

Answer 4

-cemeteries branch of GMWU refused bury dead bodies
-over 300 piled up in cold storage depot
-left Liverpool council to discuss emergency plans for disposing of corpses at sea

Question 5

What was the result of dustmen striking?

Answer 5

-london + other major cities huge piles of rotting rubbish piled up
-cities overrun with rats + become serious health hazard

Question 6

How was the public affected by the striking?

Answer 6

-most vulnerable in society hit the hardest
-children’s hospitals, old people’s homes + schools plunged into trouble

Question 7

What happened by march?

Answer 7

-most of action ended
-various large settlements + inquiries had been set up
-but in commons gov running out of allies, spirit + hope

Question 8

How did it end?

Answer 8

-Ind unrest of 1978-79 not as serious challenge to gov as miners strikes of 1974
-average pay increase achieved was 10%

Question 9

What was the psychological effect of the winter of discontent?

Answer 9

-devastating impact on public mood
-but many enjoyed enforced holiday from public sector jobs
-nobody had died + no food shortages in shops
-but was chaos + direct challenge to authority of gov