Davison History Department
Causes
In 1900 only 12% of workers in Britain were a member of a Trade Union throughout the twentieth century this number rose dramatically. Trade Unions were a way for workers to join together in collective bargaining. The main weapon of a union was to strike and withdraw labour. After World War 2 the views of British society changed and people believed that everyone should have a better life, a National Health Service was created to provide medical care for all. Business like the Bank of England, coal, aviation and cables and wireless were nationalised. This was followed by road haulage, railway, canals, electricity and gas. In 1946 the Labour government passed the Trades Disputes and Trade Unions Act replacing the 1927 Act and unions grew rapidly particularly in nationalised industries.
Development
1960s – country suffers financial crisis and cost of living increases, unions call for wage rises
1969 – MP Barbara Castles published a new plan for unions to settles disputes, including a secret ballot and a 28 day cooling off period before a strike commences
1969-71 – Smaller unions join together and membership rises
1971 – Industrial Relations Act makes a secret ballot a requirement for as strike
1972-74 – National Union of Coal Miners call for a series of strikes. There is a shortage of coal and the government is forced to ration coal and bring in a 3 day working week.
1974- New Labour Government abolishes the Industrial Relations Act and introduces a social contract bringing in regular wage increases for workers
1976 – Social contract challenged by Grunwick dispute. A 2-year strike by Asian women working at the Grunwick Film Processing Laboratories in London. Their leader went on hunger strike.
Winter 1978-79 – The ‘Winter of Discontent’, there were strikes in many industries, rubbish pilling up in streets and dead bodies left in morgues
1979 – Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister and challenged the strength of the Unions
1980-82 – Employment Acts brought in limiting the picketing rules and making it illegal to be fired because of a closed shop (not belonging to a particular Union)
1984 – Miners Strike
1984- Trade Unions Act stated that 80% of a Unions membership must vote for a strike, 85% must vote for a closed shop (compulsory union membership and banning the picketing of companies not directly involved in a strike.
1985- the miners return to work in a victory for the Government
Late 20th century – the power of unions and membership had declined since the 1970s, there were still disputes but the disruptions unions could cause was limited.
Consequences
By the 1980s so many strikes were being called that striking became known as the British disease. Although after the Second World War union membership had flourished by the end of the century the unions power and membership had declined significantly. Although strikes were still disruptive they no longer impacted on the whole country like they had in 1972 and the Winter of Discontent.
Significance
Short – Union membership rose dramatically in the twentieth century, in the 1960s and 70s strikes had paralysed the country. The 1972-74 miners’ strike had even led to electricity being rationed. Successive governments made striking more difficult, after the 1984 the 80% threshold made strikes almost impossible.
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Long – the 1984 Trade Unions Act was later reformed and a majority of workers now need to vote for strike. A long tradition of union power has been established in industries like railways, teaching and other public services. Although the power of the unions has declined the right to strike is an integral part of British society and is protected by law.