Theme 1c) Change and challenge in the workplace Flashcards
Reasons for industrial change, 1918-1921
- Areas of heavy industry were old fashioned - not competitive and left behind from Victorian era.
- Newer industries in the Midlands and the south - motor vehicles adopting Ford mass production techniques.
‘Two Englands’
Cotton, mining and shipbuilding each lost a 1/3 of its workforce whilst newer industries made gains:
- Building increase by 33%
- Service Industries up 40%
However, most still worked in older industries - where most unrest was.
Industrial Relations were poor, 1918-1921
- Relationship between gotv and workers deteriorating - 48 strikes in 1917 (200,000 involved)
- 1921: 84 million days lost to strike action as wages slumped and unemployment soared.
Miners’ Strike, 1921
- Pits went private again in 1921.
- Workers had hours lengthened and wages slashed.
Black Friday, 15th April: - Miners attempted to strike in a triple alliance (15/04/21-28/06/21).
- However, dockers and railwaymen bailed.
- Miners couldn’t win alone.
- IMPACT: Wages made 20% lower than in 1914.
General Strike, 1926
- CAUSE: Fall in coal prices in June 1925 due to the Gold Standard menat govt had to supplement wages to prevent striking.
- Samuel Commission: End govt supplements and cut wages by 13.5%
- 1st May 1926: 1 million workers locked out for refusing to accept pay cut. TUC order strike 4th May.
Consequences of General Strike:
Social
- Anti union civilians filled in these jobs to limit the strike’s affect - Organisation for the Maintenance of Supplies.
- This was because people feared this could result in revolution.
Consequences of General Strike:
Political
Trades Disputes Act:
- Prevent sympathy strikes and mass picketing.
- Tory popularity rose due to how they handled the crisis.
Consequences of General Strike:
Economic
- Coal industry lost 30% of its jobs.
- Wages were slashed.
- 162 million days lost to strike action in 1926.
- The Great Depression hurt the unions even more:
= Mass unemployment meant revenues fell away and membership declined.
Union membership decline in the interwar years
1922: 8 million
1932: 4.5 million
Consequences of General Strike:
Cultural
- BBC established itself as a PSB - on the side of conservatism + supported the govt.
- TUC ordered strikers back to work after 9 days - the strike made workers look bad.
WW2 impact on Changes in opportunities
Considerable employment changes:
- Brought about full employment and many women in o the workforce
= 1944: 33% of the civilian population in war work and 7 million women.
Wartime employment
- Wages increased
- 1941 Essential Work Order: A way to keep workers essential to the war effort in their jobs - stop employers from dismissing them (Ernest Bevin, MInister For Labour).
- ‘Bevin Boys’ (Dec 1943) - Conscription of 10% of young men into the mines rather than army - mines had lost 36,000.
Full employment
- Record levels of low unemployment - rose above 2% for 8 years between 1948 and 1979.
- Those in factories had greater disposable income.
- Increase in employment opportunities:
= Better technology.
= Growth in white collar jobs and the service sector.
Growth of unemployment - 1970s
- Unemployment rose to 1 million in 1971 - due to decline in heavy industry (hurt the north).
- 1976: Labour conceded that full employment was no longer viable - down to private industry to have a greater role.
Summary of Industrial Relations - 1939-1979
- War: Govt and unions worked closely together.
- 50s/60s: Consensus and corporatism gave unions a role in industrial policy and wage setting.
- Late 60s/70s: Became antagonistic and unions brought down 2 govts.
Ernest Bevin during the war
- MInister for Labour
- Had almost complete control over the workforce - Emergency Powers (defence) Act, 1939.
- He encouraged co-operation.
- Leader of TGWU 1922-1940
Shop ________ grew in _____ during the war due to labour _________ and need for quality work.
Shop stewards grew in power during the war due to labour shortages and need for quality work.
Wartime strikes
- Striking over wages and working conditions - law against this.
- Spring 1944: 100,000 miners went on strike in Wales.
= the govt relented to keep war effort going
= laid foundations for co-operation with unions as part of post-war consensus. - Bevin Boys strike due to pay - 514 in south wales coal fields.
1940: Defence Regulation 58AA
Banned strikes and lockouts.
Attlee’s govt and the unions
- TUC and labour had similar views on economic and social priorities.
- 120 MPs sponsored by unions - 6 in cabinet (Bevin).
- 1946: Repealed Trades Disputes Act - union power grew.
Full employment effect on relations
- Full employment led to increased membership and power.
Membership:
1945: 7.8 million
1980: 12.6 million
Rise in shop stewards - 1951-1964
- More militant.
- Role models for younger workers.
- Union leaders no longer representative of these workers.
- Young workers wanted to participate in the consumer boom - Arthur Seaton in “Saturday NIght Sunday Morning” 1958.
Deterioration in relations during Macmillan years
- Unions were a convenient excuse for economic problems.
- Unions ignored NICKY’s call for wage restraint.
- Decline in deference - more militant unions.
- Strikes per year:
1945-1954 = 1,571
1955-1964 = 2,521
Increase in wildcat strikes - 1960s
- Workers seen as lazy and obstructive.
- 90% of strike action unofficial - TUC couldn’t control members it seemed.
- Damaged the reputation of Labour.
- 1968: 4.7 million days lost - The Times “the year of the strike”
Miners and their pay in the 1960s
- By the end, they eared 3% less than manufacturing workers.
- Inflation led to greater militancy - miners exempt from pay increases.
In Place of Strife - 1969
- Supposed to curtail union power and outlaw wildcat strikes.
- Give a ministerial cooling off period for 28 days.
- TUC and Callaghan refused it - caused govt split.
- It was never imposed and became a ‘white paper’.
- Got much public support.
- Striking only caused 0.1% of all days lost.
Industrial Relations Act, 1971
- Enforced similar proposals as IPOS
- TUC refused to comply or co-operate - ineffective in a time of soaring inflation.
- Repealed in 1974 by Labour.
Context behind Miners’ strike 1971-1973
- Miners had felt excluded from country’s prosperity - their living standards had declined due to inflation (avg 9%)
- National Coal Board closed 400 pits in the 1960s - 420,000 made redundant.
- To stop closures, pay was cut.
Miners’ Strike, 1971-1973
- 1970 NUM voted for 33% of pay increase to be on par with other industrial workers - ballot only got 1/2 and not 2/3.
- Wave of unofficial strikes.
- New ballot in Dec 1971 won and strike called in Jan 1972.
- CONTEXT: Heath policy restricted pay rises to 8%.
Flying pickets against Heath
- 1,000 miners blockaded power station and coal depots - 1972: reduced electricity output to 25%.
- Scargill had 40,000 miners picketing across 500 sites.
- Govt capitulated and offered 27% increase.
3 day working week
- Oil crisis in 1973 due to Yom Kippur war left UK dependent on coal.
- Saw this as a way to get pay rise.
- Power cuts led to state of emergency.
- Forced a 3 day working week.
- Tories defeated at election for poor handling.
Labour’s Social contract
- It repealed 1971 Industrial Relations Act.
- Was only a voluntary code.
- TUC accepted.
- However, rested on assumption that bosses to persuade workers to accept pay restraints - 6% increase in period of 27% inflation.
- Bosses less influential than shop stewards.
Winter of Discontent
- Immense strike action which brought the country to a standstill.
- Caused by Denis Healey’s commitment to fixing inflation.
= Strict 5% increase cap for low paid workers.
Striking at Ford, 1978
- 15,000 went on strike on 22/09/78
- Rose to 57k in October after endorsed by TGWU.
- Ford offered a 17% pay increase
= Face govt penalties.
= Showed social contract unenforceable.
Public sector striking
- 22/01/79: Public sector workers went on strike demanding an increase from £40 to £60 a week.
- Nurses went on strike demanding 25% increase.
- Unions had lost control of members and couldn’t end strikes.
The govt had __ way to enforce pay __________ in 1978 and the unions ______ on this.
The govt had no way to enforce pay restraints in 1978 and the unions seized on this.
Winter of discontent: Govt response
- Offered an 11% pay rise and tried to negotiate with unions.
- However, unions were unable to call off strikes.
Change in attitudes, 1979
- People became dissatisfied with unions:
1969: 60% had positive views
1979: 20% - Even unions themselves were annoyed - 1 in 3 members voted for Thatcher.
