Apologies for not being involved in this debate today prior to this posting, but we have a red weather warning coming into force later here in Somerset. Therefore, I am helping out at my company (once again) so everyone can leave shortly after lunch to hopefully allow them to get home safely.
However, in regard to the "Winter of Discontent" it was not contained within public sector workers (as would seem to be the perspective of the dispute in recent times), but involved many other sectors including Britain's huge Road Haulage Industry which I worked in at that time.
Many industries in the 1960s and 1970s came under what was known as joint industrial councils (I think that's the correct title but stand to be corrected). These councils were made up of prominent employers in various industries and recognised trade unions from within each industry. Operating on a regional basis, these joint negotiating bodies would set general levels of wages and conditions for almost all that worked within them. On site negotiations would then take place with each individual employer to set local industry or company requirements.
The above system worked well as all employers set similar wages and conditions in their industries and so with the exception of Britain's car manufacturing industry, industrial relations as I remember them were generally good. However, it has already been pointed out in this thread that the Labour government of James Calahan was concerned in regard to growing inflation in the economy, and pressed the leading employers to not concede large pay increases in an effort to reduce that inflation.
In the above, negotiations on the joint industrial councils for the first time in many years broke down with the union leadership reacting under pressure from their members by calling the official action that resulted in nationwide strikes in many industries. I was out on strike for almost five weeks before our local employers gave way.
The above was hardship indeed as we had three young children at that time, but not once did anyone challenge the strike or try to cross the picket lines. Indeed, relations with our employer remained good as the management still allowed us to use the canteen etc within the large depot, would speak to us amicability and normally and we voluntarily delivered drugs to local hospitals ect without pay, the wages going to the local children's hospital
Primrose is correct in her above posting as not once as I remember did the salaries of those leading the industry come into debate throughout the dispute.
Very different times indeed.
