History - Margaret Thatcher and the Unions

Remember, the majority happened during her FIRST TERM, pre-Falklands. There is no need to know the ins and outs of the acts.  

• Trade Unions (TUs) could be sued by employers for damages caused by disruption.
• Secret ballots must be taken before strike action:
  • Get rid of Wild Cat Strikes. 
  • Democratising the Unions. 
• Ending of closed shop policy. 
  • Ended: "You cannot work here unless you're part of the Union."
  • Removing this would result in a contraction of the Unions. 
• Therefore, removing close shop policy would make it easier for employers to dismiss employees. 
• The acts controlled picketing, stopping flying pickets. 

• 'New Trade Unionism' emerged which accepted Thatcherism. 
• Signing of 'No-Strike' agreements.
• TUs became more democratic.
• By 1990s, more workers owned shares than were union members. 
• Decline in strike days:
  • 1979 - 29.5m
  • 1990 - 1.9m
• Union membership hit by unemployment in manufacturing. 
• Union leaders were marginalised (relegated to the fringe of society)

• TUs were unpopular with voters - what with the impression they had left on the country: Gravediggers Strike, 3-Day week. 
• Reform promised in '79 manifesto. 
• Control of TUs was central to Conservative ideology and vital to economic development. 
  • TUs were seen as a cause of economic decline. 
• Heath's downfall - this allowed for opposition to Trade Unionism to be mounted as Heath struggled to overcome militant unionism. 
• The Employment Acts of her first term. 
• Ian MacGregor's 'Mac the knife' reputation. Arthur Scargill had branded him a surgeon to which MacGregor replied that he was a plastic surgeon, attempting to salvage what he could.
  • He was inflammatory. 
  • Carried out Thatcher's desire to create an efficient industry. 

• 1979 shows a moderate approach to the Unions. 
• Government intervened on the side of the miners against the National Coal Board cuts. 
• Success over the Falklands War and subsequent victory in the 1983 General Election increased the Government and Thatcher's confidence. 
• Ian MacGregor responding to gov't demands to rationalise the coal industry:
  • Seeking to create only a modern, efficient industry.