Theme 1C- Changing Industrial Relations

Question 1

1919 Sankey Commission

Answer 1

Recommended that government should continue ownership of the mines

Question 2

1926 Samuel Commission

Answer 2

Suggested that mine owners should modernise mines + shouldn’t make miners work longer hours, but gov shouldn’t subsidise miners wages and miners should accept pay cuts

Question 3

1926 Samuel Memorandum

Answer 3

Proposed National Wages Board, guarantee a minimum wag for miners, ensure workers displaced by pit closures were given an alternative job, and wages should remain the same while talks continued

Question 4

1927 Trade Disputes Act

Answer 4

Banned sympathy Strikes and mass picketing

Question 5

1939 Control of Employment Act

Answer 5

Allowed semi-skilled workers to undertake formerly skilled jobs

Question 6

1939 Emergency Powers (Defence Act)

Answer 6

Gave Bevan almost complete control over British workforce

Question 7

What act was repealed in 1946?

Answer 7

The 1927 Trade Disputes Act

Question 8

1969 White Paper

Answer 8

‘In Place of Strife’- proposed that the government could order a strike ballot before official strike action, workers in unofficial strikes could be ordered back to work

Question 9

1970 Equal Pay Act

Answer 9

Prohibited any less favourable treatment between men and women in terms of pay and conditions of employment

Question 10

1971 Industrial Relations Act

Answer 10

Attempted to introduce the measures in Castle’s white paper (ineffective)

Question 11

1973 Three-Day Work Order

Answer 11

Commercial consumption of energy was limited to 3 consecutive days each week

Question 12

What was repealed in 1974?

Answer 12

The 1971 Industrial Relations Act, negotiated a ‘social contract’ with the TUC- introduced price and rent control, public transport and housing subsidies, improvements in welfare, and measures to redistribute wealth

Question 13

1975 Sex Discrimination Act

Answer 13

Prohibited sex discrimination in the workplace

Question 14

1975 Employment Protection Act

Answer 14

Illegal to sack women for being pregnant, right to maternity pay

Question 15

What was the 1939 Control of Employment Act?

Answer 15

Allowed semi-skilled workers to undertake formerly skilled jobs. Working conditions improved- Bevin insisted employers provide medical centres and canteens

Question 16

How many were in war work by 1944?

Answer 16

33% of population incl 7 mil women

Question 17

How did the war affect unemployment?

Answer 17

Only rose above 2% in 8 of the years 48-70 as employers needed to keep workers by improving wages and conditions

Question 18

How did working conditions decline post 1970?

Answer 18

Growth of unemployment, decline in heavy industry, in 76 the labour gov accepted that previous working opportunities were no longer possible and abandoned the commitment to full employment

Question 19

How did education affect working opportunities?

Answer 19

In the 50s, there was better education (Butler Act) and so a stronger economy. Increased education spending in 50s and 60s, more educational changes for women post war

Question 20

How did technology affect working opportunities?

Answer 20

1951-61 avg weekly earnings for men doubled as people moved from mechanical jobs to technical jobs

Question 21

How did the types of job change in the interwar years?

Answer 21

Heavy industry lost 1/3 of workforce, light engineering factories (producing consumer goods) increased workforce by 250%. Building industry increased workforce by 33%. Hotels and holiday camps increased workforce by 40%

Question 22

How did the types of job change post war?

Answer 22

More availability of white collar jobs for women post WW2. 1956- over 500,000 directly employed in production of motor vehicles/components

Question 23

How did working opportunities change for women post war?

Answer 23

1969 Dagenham Ford strike won a pay deal of 90% of men’s rate for similar work. 1970 Equal Pay Act, 1975 Sex Discrimination Act and 1975 Employment Protection Act