Trade Union Reform

Question 1

What % of Britain’s labour force had been in a trade union in 1900?

Answer 1

12%

Question 2

What % of Britain’s labour force had been in a trade union in 1984?

Answer 2

Around 50%

Question 3

By the 1980s, British workers were going on so many strikes that striking became known as what?

Answer 3

‘British disease’.

Question 4

What was there a strong belief about after the Second World War?

Answer 4

That life should be better for the majority of people, after all this is what people had been fighting for during the war.

Question 5

What were 3 creations during post-war Britain?

Answer 5

The creation of:
-The welfare state
-The National Health Service
-The nationalisation of key industries

Question 6

What did nationalisation start with?

Answer 6

-The Bank of England
-Civil aviation
-Coal
-Cables
-Wireless

Question 7

What did nationalisation go onto?

Answer 7

-Railways
-Canals
-Road haulage
-Trucking
-Electricity
-Gas

Question 8

What did the nationalisation of industries play a key role in?

Answer 8

Creating a good relationship between the government, employers and union members.

Question 9

Who was appointed as a moderate union leader?

Answer 9

Ernest Bevin.

Question 10

What did the appointment of Ernest Bevin help?

Answer 10

It helped to gain union support after the General Strike.

Question 11

What did the New Labour government pass in 1946?

Answer 11

The Trades Disputes and Trade Unions Act; this amended the same act of 1927.

Question 12

What happened as a result of the Trades Disputes and Trade Unions Act of 1946?

Answer 12

Union membership flourished.

Question 13

What had flourishing union membership brought after the 1960s?

Answer 13

It brought an increase in prices and a drop in wages.

Question 14

What happened in the 1960s?

Answer 14

Country suffered from periods of inflation; unions demand wage increases to match rising prices.

Question 15

What happened in 1971?

Answer 15

The Industrial Relations Act was introduced: makes ballots compulsory

Question 16

What happened in 1974?

Answer 16

New Labour government abolishes Industrial Relations Act and introduces social contract instead, securing regular wage increases for workers.

Question 17

What happened in winter 1978-79?

Answer 17

Strikes in many industries, leads to ‘Winter of ‘Discontent’; reports of rubbish and bodies piling up in morgues as workers strike.

Question 18

What happened in 1979?

Answer 18

Conservatives win election. Margaret Thatcher becomes Prime Minister; government begins to challenge strength of unions.

Question 19

What happened in 1980 and 1982?

Answer 19

Employment Acts introduced, changing rules on picketing and making it unlawful for someone to be dismissed because of a closed shop.

Question 20

What happened in 1984?

Answer 20

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.