Trade Union Reform Flashcards
What % of Britain’s labour force had been in a trade union in 1900?
12%
What % of Britain’s labour force had been in a trade union in 1984?
Around 50%
By the 1980s, British workers were going on so many strikes that striking became known as what?
‘British disease’.
What was there a strong belief about after the Second World War?
That life should be better for the majority of people, after all this is what people had been fighting for during the war.
What were 3 creations during post-war Britain?
The creation of:
-The welfare state
-The National Health Service
-The nationalisation of key industries
What did nationalisation start with?
-The Bank of England
-Civil aviation
-Coal
-Cables
-Wireless
What did nationalisation go onto?
-Railways
-Canals
-Road haulage
-Trucking
-Electricity
-Gas
What did the nationalisation of industries play a key role in?
Creating a good relationship between the government, employers and union members.
Who was appointed as a moderate union leader?
Ernest Bevin.
What did the appointment of Ernest Bevin help?
It helped to gain union support after the General Strike.
What did the New Labour government pass in 1946?
The Trades Disputes and Trade Unions Act; this amended the same act of 1927.
What happened as a result of the Trades Disputes and Trade Unions Act of 1946?
Union membership flourished.
What had flourishing union membership brought after the 1960s?
It brought an increase in prices and a drop in wages.
What happened in the 1960s?
Country suffered from periods of inflation; unions demand wage increases to match rising prices.
What happened in 1971?
The Industrial Relations Act was introduced: makes ballots compulsory
What happened in 1974?
New Labour government abolishes Industrial Relations Act and introduces social contract instead, securing regular wage increases for workers.
What happened in winter 1978-79?
Strikes in many industries, leads to ‘Winter of ‘Discontent’; reports of rubbish and bodies piling up in morgues as workers strike.
What happened in 1979?
Conservatives win election. Margaret Thatcher becomes Prime Minister; government begins to challenge strength of unions.
What happened in 1980 and 1982?
Employment Acts introduced, changing rules on picketing and making it unlawful for someone to be dismissed because of a closed shop.
What happened in 1984?
Thatcher’s government introduces Trade Union Act; this states 80% of members must agree for strikes to be called; closed shops are illegal unless 85% of workers are happy with situation; secondary picketing (of companies that do business with employer) is outlawed.
