British Conservatism and Trade Unionism, 1945-1964 (Paperback)

For most of the twentieth century, the Conservative Party engaged in an ongoing struggle to curb the power of the trade unions, culminating in the radical legislation of the Thatcher governments. Yet, as this book shows, for a brief period between the end of the Second World War and the election of Harold Wilson's Labour government in 1964, the Conservative Party adopted a remarkably constructive and conciliatory approach to the trade unions, dubbed 'voluntarism'. During this time the party leadership made strenuous efforts to avoid, as far as was politically possible, confrontation with, or legislation against, the trade unions, even when this incurred the wrath of some Conservative backbenchers and the Party's mass membership. In explaining why the Conservative leadership sought to avoid conflict with the trade unions, this study considers the economic circumstances of the period in question, the political environment, electoral considerations, the perspective adopted by the Conservative leadership in comprehending industrial relations and explaining conflict in the workplace, and the personalities of both the Conservative leadership and the key figures in the trade unions. Making extensive use of primary and archival sources it explains why the 1945-64 period was unique in the Conservative Party's approach to Britain's trade unions. By 1964, though, even hitherto Conservative defenders of voluntarism were acknowledging that some form of official inquiry into the conduct and operation of trade British unionism, as a prelude to legislation, was necessary, thereby signifying that the heyday of 'voluntarism' and cordial relations between senior Conservatives and the trade unions was coming to an end.

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	November 2016
First published:	2009
Authors:	Peter Dorey
Dimensions:	234 x 156 x 13mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	218
ISBN-13:	978-1-138-26205-8
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > General Books > Humanities > History > World history > 1750 to 1900 Books > Humanities > History > British & Irish history > General Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Economic history Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Social & political philosophy Books > History > British & Irish history > General Books > History > History of specific subjects > Economic history Books > History > World history > 1750 to 1900 Books > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Social & political philosophy
LSN:	1-138-26205-6
Barcode:	9781138262058

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