3 The Ford strike, 1978
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John Shepherd
Abstract
The initial walk-outs at the Halewood and Southampton Ford plants were quickly followed by walk-outs at Ford's Daventry, Swansea and Basildon plants, as well as the main Dagenham plant beside the River Thames in Essex. In the history of post-war British industrial conflict, the Ford strike from September to November 1978 represents a major dispute, but has received relatively little analysis. The 'winter of discontent' is remembered primarily for industrial action by public sector workers, especially between January and March 1979. The figure for the pay increase that resolved the strike, which attracted intense media coverage, acted as a pace setter for groups of workers in both the private and public sectors in the annual pay round. The government suffered a calamitous defeat in failing to secure parliamentary support for its policy of sanctions against Ford, as well as against other private companies that breached the 5 percent guideline.
Abstract
The initial walk-outs at the Halewood and Southampton Ford plants were quickly followed by walk-outs at Ford's Daventry, Swansea and Basildon plants, as well as the main Dagenham plant beside the River Thames in Essex. In the history of post-war British industrial conflict, the Ford strike from September to November 1978 represents a major dispute, but has received relatively little analysis. The 'winter of discontent' is remembered primarily for industrial action by public sector workers, especially between January and March 1979. The figure for the pay increase that resolved the strike, which attracted intense media coverage, acted as a pace setter for groups of workers in both the private and public sectors in the annual pay round. The government suffered a calamitous defeat in failing to secure parliamentary support for its policy of sanctions against Ford, as well as against other private companies that breached the 5 percent guideline.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of illustrations viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xii
- 1 The 1970s 1
- 2 Election deferred and the collapse of the social contract 18
- 3 The Ford strike, 1978 38
- 4 The oil tanker drivers’ dispute and the road hauliers’ strike 59
- 5 Public sector strikes 82
- 6 Media coverage 108
- 7 The Conservative Party and the ‘winter of discontent’ 130
- 8 Political aftermath 147
- 9 In conclusion 168
- ‘Winter of discontent’, 1978–79 176
- Bibliography 179
- Index 196
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of illustrations viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xii
- 1 The 1970s 1
- 2 Election deferred and the collapse of the social contract 18
- 3 The Ford strike, 1978 38
- 4 The oil tanker drivers’ dispute and the road hauliers’ strike 59
- 5 Public sector strikes 82
- 6 Media coverage 108
- 7 The Conservative Party and the ‘winter of discontent’ 130
- 8 Political aftermath 147
- 9 In conclusion 168
- ‘Winter of discontent’, 1978–79 176
- Bibliography 179
- Index 196
