1. Strikes
Red Clydeside 1919 – Unemployment and want of reduced working hours. The Communist flag was flown. Lloyd-George threatened to send in aircraft to bomb.
Miners Strike 1921 (MFGB) – Caused by privatisation. Emergency Powers Act was used. Black Friday happened when the NUR and NTWF refused to strike in sympathy. The MFGB went on strike again when the government returned to the Gold Standard as pay was cut again.
The General Strike 1926 – The Samuel Commission recommended a pay cut. The government recognised a strike was imminent so was prepared. The Conservatives put the Minister for War in charge. They used the army to put it down.

2. Strikes
Bevin Boys – Conscripted to work in the coal mines during WW2. Bevin referred to them as ‘boys’. They were mistaken for being objectors to the war. They were forced to continue working after the war ended. Did bring people together but also created tension
Welsh Miners’ Strike, ,000 Welsh miners went on strike over wages. It was a success as they got an improved minimum wage. Some saw them as unpatriotic
Ford Strikes 1968 – Women went on strike over unequal pay. Production was stopped due to the strike. They won increased, but not equal, pay. It led to the Equal Pay Act of 1970
Wildcat Strikes – 1960s. Unofficial strikes. 3 million work days lost each year. Damaged Labour due to their history

3. Strikes Girling Brake Strike, 1968 – Birmingham car workers
Miners’ Strikes 1970s – Unofficial and official. Heath had made policy that restricted pay increases to 8%. Arthur Scargill created flying pickets which blockaded power stations.
Haulage Strike – Lorry drivers wanted a 40% pay increase and refused to work overtime.
Public Sector Strike – Got an 11% pay increase. Unions had lost control over their members

4. 1920s Increased union disputes during the boom
The slump then led to decreased union membership
Red Clydeside, Miners Strike and the General Strike
Strikes at the end of the war as people felt they had been let down
Decline in industrial industry. This area also so more union unrest
Growth of light engineering (attracted women) and vehicle production – ‘Two Englands’
Trades Disputes Act 1927 – banned sympathetic strikes, mass Picketing and union members had to make a decision to pay the Labour Party

5. 1930s Decline in union membership due to the Great Depression
Some areas of the UK were hit harder than others. Workers were reluctant to strike in favour of others
1939 Emergency Powers Defence Act – the government could do whatever it needed to keep the country running during a war (Bevin in charge)

6. 1940s WW2 Workers realised their importance Full employment
Increased opportunities
1939 Control of Employment Act – skilled work could be done by semi-skilled workers
1941 Essential Works Order
Unions and government worked together. Corporatism existed and unions had a say over pay
Labour got rid of the Trades Disputes Act which gave unions more power

7. 1950s Low unemployment Governments committed to full employment
Greater opportunities – people could choose jobs
Growth of white-collar and technical jobs
Growth of car manufacturing
Consumerism led to a demand in wage increases

8. 1960s Relationship between government and unions starts to break down
Growth of union membership
Inflation led to more strikes
1962 – NEDDY and NICKY
Wilson had proposed wage increased to match price increases which meant good relationships with the unions
Labour start to curb union power Barbara Castle published ‘In Place of Strife’. Wilson said no

9. 1970s Growth of unemployment Decline of heavy industry
In 1976 Labour abandoned a commitment to full employment
Heath fell in 1974 due to disputes between unions and the government
Winter of Discontent led to the fall of Callaghan
1971 – Industrial Relations Act to curb union power. Repealed by Wilson
Heath and the ‘Who governs Britain’ campaign
1975 pay increases agreed
1979 Thatcher agreed to curb union power