This volume traces the history of the TGWU from its zenith in the
period of the Labour Government to its nadir in 1992. It easily
divides itself into two distinct periods. The first from 1974-79
saw a reforming Labour government which, recognising trade union
strength, was determined to ‘bring about a fundamental and
irreversible shift in the balance of power and wealth in favour of
working people’. It marked the zenith of the TGWU in which the
union played an important role, overseeing the repeal of anti-union
Industrial Relation Act, and the enactment of a raft of pro-worker
legislation. But this was insufficient to sustain the 'Social
Contract' between the Labour Government and the Trade Unions–
leading to the ‘Winter of Discontent’ and the Tory election
victory of 1979. The second period, 1979-92, witnessed the nadir of
the TGWU. A right wing Conservative government led by Margaret
Thatcher, was determined to reverse all the gains of preceding
Labour administrations. Anti-union legislation and the cruel tool
of unemployment created the economic and political conditions to
decimate trade unions. Defensive struggles could not stop the
defeats suffered by car workers, miners, printers and dockers.
Trade union membership declined in the Thatcher years, leading to a
bleak period of industrial defeat and union retrenchment,
characterised by mergers and reorganisation - mitigated only by
positive moves to tackle endemic racism and sexism in an attempt to
involve previously disregarded women and black workers.
General
Imprint: |
Liverpool University Press
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
May 2023 |
Authors: |
Mary Davis
|
Dimensions: |
234 x 156mm (L x W) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
168 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-80207-850-3 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
1-80207-850-9 |
Barcode: |
9781802078503 |
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!