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Identity and conflicts of working people 1945- 2011. http://johncmullen.blogspot.com. An upmarket model from 1963. Union density in Britain. Miners’ gala in the 1960s. Ford Dagenham workers. Robots at Halewood. One of the new university buildings of the 1960s. 1960s council housing.
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Identity and conflicts of working people 1945- 2011 http://johncmullen.blogspot.com
The governments of the long boom 1945 Labour – Clement Attlee 1951 Conservative – Winston Churchill, and others including Harold Macmillan 1964 Labour – Harold Wilson 1970 Conservative –Edward Heath 1974 Labour –Harold Wilson
1979-1997 Conservative governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major : difficult times for trade unionists • Since 1979, anti-union laws make it harder to strike (solidarity strikes illegal, many forms of picketing illegal, postal votes obligatory) • Throughout the 1980s, union membership declined rapidly : due to a combination of government hostility towards the unions and de-industrialisation. • The 1984-5 miners’ strike was a key defeat for the trade union movement. • A slow recovery may be seen after 1995.
1997-2010 : the Labour governments under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown • Some reforms make union recognition easier. • If 40% of employees in a firm vote in favour, the employer must negotiate with the union • A minimum wage was introduced for the first time • BUT • The Labour government endorsed the concept of ‘labour flexibility’. • New Labour was keen to keep the unions at arm’s length.
Margaret Thatcher’s slogan had been « no more beer and sandwiches at number ten. » Tony Blair’s slogan concerning the unions was « fairness but no favours ». David Cameron warned union leaders 'Don't try taking me on'