19.heath And Industrial Relations

A Sixties Social Revolution? British Society, 1959-1975 Lesson 16

Edward Heath and the growing problem of industrial relations LO: To analyse the problems inherited by Heath and what he did to resolve them


An appreciation of Unionism and its power.
The importance of individuals –particularly within government.
Constructing critical appraisals of key figures and events.

a)

Make direct, point for point comparisons- do not describe each view in turn.

b) i. ii. iii. iv. v.

Define what you mean by “permissive”, Make sure you use your own knowledge and all the sources, Make your examples specific, Balanced answer, focussed on question, Don’t forget a conclusion.

Election results by year

Labour

Conservative

Liberal

Others

1970

287

330

6

7

Feb 1974

301

297

14

23

Oct 1974

319

277

13

26

1. What can we learn from these election results?

a. ________________________________ b. ________________________________ c. ________________________________

2. What were Heath’s criticisms of Labour? 3. What did the Conservatives stand for? 4. So what do you think the Conservatives aimed to do?

Within months of taking office, Heath was faced with several strikes…

Which Unions went on strike?

Industrial Relations Act, 1971

In an attempt to curb Union power…

What was the government’s response? • Registration for Unions

Dustmen, Dockers,

• Clear rules on who could call strikes

power workers,

• Pre-Strike ballot, cooling-off period • No unregistered or sympathetic strikes

postal workers

• Complaints against Unions to be recorded

– Leading to major disruption

• Enforced by National Industrial Relations Court

How did the Conservative government deal with the problem of the Unions? So then what did Heath do? Heath tried to negotiate but miners threatened further action at moment OPEC announced massive price increases following Arab-Israeli conflict; called a snap election in February 1974 to decide ‘Who governs Britain?’

What was the result of this? The tide of industrial disputes continued…

Angry backlash: Unions refused to register; demonstrations in London, Engineering strike; TGWU fined by NIRC, Miners’ Strike; Emergency Measures, Three-day Week

Rock and Roll

Celebrity / Drugs

Vietnam and Devaluation

Race / Immigration

Industrial relations

1970: Wilson v Heath

Northern Ireland

Harold, Ted and Jim, 1964 - 1979 The events of 1964 to 1979 are chronicled in Harold, Ted and Jim: When the Modern Failed which describes the British desire for technology and advancement that was bogged down in a Wilson government beset with industrial conflict and decline.

Fact file: The Pentonville Five

Homework Activity

Description:

Research Trade Union Activity and the Emergency measures of 1974. Create Fact files to summarize the key facts.

Key elements: How did it create problems?

Fact file: Miners’ Strike 1972 Description:

How was it dealt with?

Key elements:

Success/ Failure?

How did it create problems? How was it dealt with? Success/ Failure?

Fact file: Emergency Measures of 1974 What were they? How did people react?

In his 1970 election campaign, Heath promised to bring an end to ‘six long years of hard Labour’. He argued that Labour had lost touch with the wishes of the electorate and that the conservatives would address peoples needs. How far did Heath succeed in keeping these promises?


Offer the British people a new type of Conservative government
Take Britain into the EEC
Reduce taxes and allow more economic freedom
Reduce union power and cut down on unofficial strikes
Concentrate government subsidies on those that need them most
Rebuild Britain’s economy and make the country stronger

“Heath promised voters a lot but achieved very little.” Explain whether you agree or disagree.

• Membership of the EEC in 1973 • Raising of the school leaving age to 16 • Currency reform, 1972 (Decimalisation) • Availability of the Pill on the NHS • Reorganisation of local government • Setting up of regional and area boards to run the NHS

The nation now knows what five years of Labour rule can mean. Hundreds of thousands of extra families suffering the hardship and insecurity of unemployment. Increasing problems of poverty and homelessness. Pensioners helpless as they watch the extra shillings eaten up by the fastest price rise for twenty years. Housewives struggling to make ends meet. £3,000 million a year of extra taxation equivalent to £3.10. 0d a week for every family. A devalued £. A new load of foreign debt, some of it stretching ahead into the twenty-first century. Our economy has expanded more slowly than that of any other comparable country in the world. Almost everywhere in Western Europe and North America the standard of living grows faster than in Britain. International experts are predicting that if these trends are allowed to continue Britain will soon be the poorest major country in the West. Yet before these locust years of Labour, we had the Conservative years of rising prosperity. Years when Britain's industry expanded faster. When the standard of living grew three times as fast. When prices rose more slowly. When unemployment was low. When tax rates were cut time after time. When pensions rose twice as fast as prices. When the social services at home advanced more rapidly, and Britain played a proper part in helping poorer countries overseas. Conservatives are proud of yesterday's achievements. Angered by today's failures. Determined that tomorrow shall be better again. 1970 Conservative Party General Election Manifesto

Mr Wilson's promise. Devaluation doesn't mean of course that the pound here in Britain, in your pocket or purse or in the bank has best devalued. The fact. Under Labour the value of the pound has fallen from twenty shillings to fifteen shillings and seven pence. Since Mr Wilson came to power this is what he has done to your pound. Going at the same rate 1971 would be like this - fourteen and three, 1972 - thirteen and a penny, 1973 - twelve shillings, 1974 - eleven shillings, 1975 - ten shillings. The ten bob pound. Only your vote can stop him. Mr Wilson's promise. Over the period of Parliament I believe we can do it. Certainly without any general increase in taxation. The fact. Labour have piled on extra taxes to the staggering total of three thousand million a year. Conservative Party Election Broadcasts from 1970

So what is the single most important quality that the Conservative Party stands for ? What is the one essential thing you'll be voting for? Freedom - it is as simple as that. We think your life is your own and you should be free to arrange it as you think fit. You should have the freedom to live in your own house and the government should make it possible for you to do so. You should have the freedom to be better off if you work harder and the government should see to it that you have the incentive of keeping more of the money that you earn. You should have the freedom to spend your money or to save it. You should have the freedom to have more real say in the way the country - your country - is run. In short, you should have the freedom to be an individual and no one individual should have to be like any other. That's what I believe in. That is what every Conservative believes in - the freedom to choose. That is the alternative to a kind of government that just can't keep its fingers out of any pie. I believe the people of this country deserve a better life; and that is the only reason that I am in politics, because I believe just that. And if I have one other ambition today it is perhaps to do something to restore the faith people ought to have in the men and women they elect to lead them. I said earlier you'd hear a lot of promises in the next few days. The Labour Party makes you an offer - carry on with Labour, the last five years all over again. I'll promise you one thing, and I will stand by that promise. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to make sure that for all the people in this country tomorrow will be better than today. Ted Heath, Election Broadcast,1970

Who am I? game Harold Wilson

Wirral Grammar School, Oxford. Labour leader from 1963. Tried to link socialism with technological advance.

George Brown

Working class trade unionist. In Shadow Cabinet but defeated by Wilson in 63 leadership election. Economic Affairs, 1964. Foreign Secretary, 1966

James Callaghan

Nicknamed Sunny Jim. Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1964 to 1967 during balance of payments deficit and speculative attacks on the pound.

Barbara Castle

Labour cabinet minister, “In place of Strife” white paper on industrial relations split the government

Tony Crosland

Member of the Labour Party, Social theorist, Foreign Secretary

Denis Healey

Grammar school educated, Defence Secretary and later Chancellor who applied for IMF loan

Roy Jenkins

Home Secretary responsible for substantial legal changes including censorship, divorce, homosexuality, abortion, capital punishment

Frank Cousins

Trade Union leader and Labour Politician, General Secretary of TGWU, Minister of Technology

Tony Benn

Labour former Peer- gave it up to remain in the House of Commons, As Minister of Technology was responsible for integrating scientific advances into government policy

Edward Heath

PM who took Britain into the EEC, Record marred by Trade Union Strife

This time the strife has got to stop. Only you can stop it. It is time for you to speak with your vote. Heath’s election speech Feb 1974

I consider it an act of gross irresponsibility that this general election has been called in the face of the current and impending industrial action. Speech by Enoch Powell (Con), Feb 1974

My own feeling is that I would prefer us to be having an election in a calm climate rather than in a position of strike action. Joe Gormley, Leader of the NUM, Feb 1974

EXTRA Use the sources and your own knowledge. How far was Heath’s defeat in the election of 1974 the result of the miners’ strike?